Aikido’s AO60DC is designed to host 10-12MW of AI-grade computing power on a platform for a 15-18MW+ wind turbine, with integrated battery energy storage.

Designed for windfarms providing from 30MW to more than 1GW of IT load, Aikido says the concept “offers a pathway to sovereign, gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure … that can help solve the need for rapid growth in demand for high-density AI infrastructure.

“Developers find it increasingly difficult to obtain energy, land and water to build mega-campuses, especially close to load centres,” said Aikido. “Offshore, energy, cooling and space are abundant and the ocean acts as an infinite heat sink. Around the world, areas pre-designated for floating wind could also be used for data centres.”

The wind turbine and battery energy storage system are designed to power the data centre for the majority of its operating hours, with a grid connection used primarily during summer months. Batteries can also be pre-charged ahead of grid stress events, which can significantly shorten effective grid connection timelines for new capacity.

Aikido Technologies chief executive Sam Kanner said, “First movers in the oil and gas industry exploited deepwater resources more than 40 years ago and reaped massive benefits. Aikido is well-placed to integrate proven, offshore components with typical data hall construction techniques to build GW-scale AI factories faster, cleaner, cheaper and more efficiently than conventional techniques.”

Aikido says that by combining its proprietary wind turbine substructure and a data centre enclosure in a single unit, the design will reduce capital and operating costs while simplifying integration. The data halls can be pre-fabricated in a factory and lifted into place during the final integration.

At the core of the concept is Aikido’s modular ‘flat-pack’ semi-submersible floating platform, which, the company claims, can be assembled much more quickly than conventional structures for floating wind turbines

Aikido says a proof-of-concept unit is under development in Norway and is scheduled for deployment later this year. Aikido is also a member of the NVIDIA Inception program, and the company has already received early interest from AI customers.

The first commercial project is targeted for the UK, with a planned operational date of 2028. A site has been identified and detailed engineering and commercial discussions are underway.