LG Electronics will reduce power consumption in data centers by developing a direct current-based cooling system.
On the 24th, LG Electronics signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Electric Power Corporation and Hanwha Construction Division at Hanwha Building in Jung-gu, Seoul, for “building a direct current-based data center and creating an ecosystem.” LG Electronics’ ES Business Division CEO Jae-sung Lee, Korea Electric Power Corporation President Dong-cheol Kim, and CEO of Hanwha Construction Division, Seung-mo Kim, attended the agreement ceremony.
Through this agreement, the three companies will establish a power-saving system by operating 1MW of the total 10MW data center using direct current power. The goal is to respond to the rapidly increasing power demand in AI data centers and establish an efficient power supply system using renewable energy (such as solar and wind power).
Most power plants produce alternating current (AC) power, but renewable energy outputs direct current (DC) power. Converting this power to alternating current for use in existing systems results in about 10% energy loss.
LG Electronics plans to reduce these losses by developing and supplying ultra-large chillers using a direct current system to data centers. Korea Electric Power Corporation will apply direct current transmission technology to provide stable power, and Hanwha Construction Division will design and construct the system.
LG Electronics has been offering various cooling solutions based on high-efficiency HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technology. It provides customer-tailored solutions such as liquid cooling that directly cools chips, air cooling chillers, and systems compatible with direct current power.
Within the Pyeongtaek Chiller Plant, LG Electronics has built the “LG AI Data Center HVAC Solution Lab,” a testbed dedicated to AI data centers, to test solutions under various environmental conditions.
The core components, such as compressors and motors, are developed with proprietary technology called “Core Tech.” Inverter technology is used to enhance both energy efficiency and product performance.
The ES Business Division, established late last year, is targeting the clean tech market with a focus on HVAC technology. It is expanding into new growth areas such as nuclear power plants and mega factories, utilizing AI-based cooling technology.
Vice President Jae-sung Lee stated, “We will continue developing cooling solutions to reduce the power usage of data centers.”