Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) and Stratum Holdings have signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) to explore the development of offshore data center systems powered primarily by wave, wind, and solar energy.

The proposed collaboration will combine OPT's renewable energy platforms with Stratum's high-performance computing infrastructure to test the feasibility of operating artificial intelligence workloads in offshore environments.

OPT and Stratum Test Renewable-Powered Edge AI

Announced on October 26, 2026, the initiative will focus on integrating OPT's PowerBuoy platforms with graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware supplied by Stratum.

The demonstration aims to establish whether edge AI inference workloads can operate using onboard renewable power without requiring an electricity connection to shore.

PowerBuoy Technology to Support Offshore Computing

Under the proposed arrangement, OPT would provide Stratum with a limited, non-exclusive license to selected patents covering its PowerBuoy technology. The company would also make certain existing prototype PowerBuoy assets available for the demonstration program.

PowerBuoy platforms are designed to generate renewable energy from ocean waves and provide power and communications for remote maritime applications. OPT's patent portfolio includes technologies covering buoy architecture, energy conversion, control systems, mooring, anchoring, and communications.

The proposed integration would use these platforms to supply electricity to offshore computing equipment, potentially enabling AI processing in locations where conventional grid connections are unavailable or impractical.

Stratum to Supply GPU Infrastructure

Stratum Holdings would contribute GPU hardware, including NVIDIA B300 GPUs, alongside technical expertise for integrating the computing equipment with OPT's offshore platforms.

The collaboration would initially concentrate on system integration, technical performance validation, and collecting operational data from demonstration deployments.

Stratum would also pay OPT a monthly retainer under the terms of definitive agreements that the companies still need to negotiate. The non-binding LOI outlines the proposed framework but does not establish that the demonstration has entered construction or commercial operation.

Potential to Reduce Data Center Cooling Requirements

The companies will also investigate whether deploying computing infrastructure in cooler ocean environments could reduce the energy required for cooling.

Cooling represents a significant source of electricity consumption in conventional data centers, particularly those operating high-density AI computing hardware. Offshore deployment could offer an alternative approach to managing thermal loads while using renewable energy for power generation.

However, the potential cooling benefits have not yet been demonstrated. Evaluating these benefits will form part of the proposed program, alongside testing the integration and performance of the offshore computing systems.

Potential Applications in Maritime and Offshore Industries

If the demonstration establishes technical feasibility, the results could inform future applications requiring computing capabilities in remote locations.

Potential uses identified by the companies include maritime domain awareness, offshore energy monitoring, scientific sensing, and other edge computing workloads. Processing data closer to where it is generated could also reduce the need to transmit large volumes of information to onshore data centers.

The companies have not announced a commercial deployment schedule or specified the capacity of the proposed demonstration systems.

Collaboration Remains Subject to Definitive Agreements

The proposed collaboration represents an opportunity for OPT to extend its PowerBuoy technology into offshore AI infrastructure, while Stratum would explore additional environments for deploying its GPU computing assets.

Tracy Pagliara, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Power Technologies, said the initiative aligns with the company's strategy of providing renewable power and integrated technology solutions for offshore applications.

Nicholas H. Adler, Chief Executive Officer of Stratum Holdings, said the collaboration would allow the companies to explore renewable-powered offshore platforms for edge AI inference, including the potential advantages of local processing and the marine environment.

The next steps will involve negotiating definitive agreements and undertaking the planned technical integration and validation work. As the LOI is non-binding, the demonstration remains proposed, and its execution will depend on the companies finalizing their arrangements and successfully validating the technology.

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