HD Hyundai Wins Approval for 100-MW Floating Power Plant

HD Hyundai (267250.KS) has won recognition for its proprietary technology in barge-mounted power plants (BMPP), floating facilities often described as power stations at sea.

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (009540.KS), the intermediate shipbuilding holding company of HD Hyundai, said on the 15th that it recently received approval in principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for a 100-megawatt BMPP.

A BMPP generates electricity offshore using power engines. It takes less time to build than a conventional plant and can be relocated to wherever demand arises. Such facilities are used mainly at data centers and industrial complexes where onshore power infrastructure is difficult to build or where large-scale electricity demand emerges.

With the approval, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has had core technologies required to build a BMPP certified, including basic conceptual design, electrical single-line diagrams and hull stability reviews.

The company's in-house BMPP design, built around mid-sized HiMSEN engines, can supply up to 100 megawatts of electricity on a stable basis. The company plans to move into the BMPP market in earnest after completing detailed design work and follow-up certification procedures.

Market interest in BMPPs has been growing steadily. Global electricity demand is rising rapidly as artificial intelligence spreads and data centers expand, while the construction of onshore power plants has run into obstacles such as securing sites and environmental regulations.

An official at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering said the ability to produce and supply power reliably and flexibly is a core competitive advantage in the age of AI, adding that the company will further advance its BMPP technology to lead the global power infrastructure market.