Drogue Secures $20 Million in Funding, Plans to Deploy Prototype of Floating Ocean Thermal Energy Data Center by Early 2028

Drogue Secures $20 Million in Funding, Plans to Deploy Prototype of Floating Ocean Thermal Energy Data Center by Early 2028

2026-11-13 20:10View Original

According to reports, U.S. startup Drogue has raised $20 million to deploy a megawatt-scale data center prototype onto conventional ocean-going vessels by early 2028, harnessing the temperature difference between surface and deep seawater for power generation to supply AI servers. Founded approximately six months ago and headquartered in Washington, D.C., Drogue has secured investment from XYZ Venture Capital, Toyota Ventures, Tamarack Global, among others.

The system employs Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology: warm surface seawater cools the data center and heats ammonia to vaporize it, driving a turbine for electricity generation; cold seawater drawn from around 1,000 meters below is used to condense the ammonia vapor, creating a closed-loop cycle. The company states that future units will be mounted on floating structures akin to offshore oil platforms, with each platform expected to operate at sea for approximately ten years. Drogue has already received a Principles Approval from the American Bureau of Shipping and is currently procuring the first vessel for prototype construction.

Disclaimer: Contains third-party opinions, does not constitute financial advice

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