August 25, 2023 - The South Korean government is planning a 1GW data center campus in the southwest of the country.
The New Industry and Distributed Energy Division, part of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, this week announced that a large-scale data center complex with up to 25 40MW data centers will be built in the Salaseido area of Haenam, Jeollanam- do.
“This area is evaluated as the best location for corporate data centers to achieve 100 percent renewable energy (RE100), etc. with abundant renewable energy and a relatively spare power system,” the Ministry said.
The data centers will reportedly be built in phases by 2037. The first phase will see five buildings and a 300MW substation developed by 2027. Five more data centers and a second substation will be built by 2023, and a further eight facilities are due to be constructed by 2037.
The campus will be located at the RE100 industrial site in Guseong district, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam – do in the southwest of the country. The area reportedly has ‘abundant’ renewable energy and spare capacity.
The government says the project could see investments totaling 10 trillion won ($7.5 billion).
Minister Lee Chang-yang this week signed a business agreement with Jeollanam -do, Haenam-gun, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Jeonnam Development Corporation, and seven investment companies to promote the data center park construction project.
The seven investment firms are Samsung C&T, LG CNS, NH Investment & Securities, Bosung Industry, TGK Co. Ltd., Korea DRD, and Deus Systems.
Lee Ho- hyun, director of electric power policy who attended the agreement signing ceremony, said: “We welcome the investment in the Solaseado data center park development project. We will spare no political support, including power supply and administrative support.”
