# Drogue raises $20m to develop ocean-powered floating data centres

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/this-young-startup-wants-to-power-floating-data-centers-with-the-oceans-heat-and-investors-are-already-on-board/
- Published: 2026-11-13T20:07:24+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T05:34:19+00:00
- Original publisher: TechCrunch
- Original article: https://techcrunch.com/2026/11/13/this-young-startup-wants-to-power-floating-data-centers-with-the-oceans-heat-and-investors-are-already-on-board/
- Topics: Business, Companies

## Key points

- Drogue has raised $20 million for ocean-powered floating data centres.
- A multi-megawatt ship prototype is planned for early 2028.
- The system uses temperature differences between surface and deep water.

## Summary

Drogue, a six-month-old startup, has raised $20 million to develop floating data centres powered by heat from the ocean. It aims to offer a faster way to add computing capacity as AI demand grows, without relying on the long timelines involved in building land-based facilities and connecting them to power grids.

The company plans to install a multi-megawatt prototype on an oceangoing ship and send it to sea in early 2028. Its system uses warm surface water and cold water from deep below to drive a cycle that generates electricity while cooling servers; the approach, known as ocean thermal energy conversion, was explored decades ago. Drogue says advances in manufacturing could help make it practical, though the article notes the need for customers able to use the power at sea.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.