SGC Energy and Vertiv Partner to Deploy PowerNexus at Planned South Korea AI Data Center

South Korean energy firm SGC Energy has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Vertiv to jointly optimize power and cooling infrastructure for SGC's planned AI data center in Gunsan, South Korea. The collaboration marks a significant step in the development of what is expected to become one of the region's most advanced AI-ready facilities, with the initial phase targeted for energization in the first quarter of 2028.

Under the agreement, Vertiv plans to deploy its integrated power solution, PowerNexus, at the Gunsan site—marking the first installation of the system in South Korea. PowerNexus combines a high-capacity uninterruptible power supply and system switchgear into a single, factory-assembled block. According to Vertiv, the modular architecture allows deployment up to 70 percent faster than traditional alternatives while reducing installation costs by as much as 20 percent, offering a compelling value proposition for large-scale AI workloads that demand rapid time-to-market and high reliability.

The planned data center, first unveiled in February this year, will deliver 60MW of capacity in its initial phase, with the potential to scale to 300MW at full buildout. The facility will be constructed on approximately 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sqm) of land already owned by SGC Green Power, an affiliate of SGC Energy, within the Gunsan National Industrial Complex 2. That industrial zone is one of two major areas surrounding Gunsan and is home to shipbuilding facilities, power plants, and battery production operations, providing a robust energy ecosystem for the project.

"We plan to accelerate the construction of an unrivaled AI data center based on the close partnership between SGC Energy and Vertiv," said Hwang Se-hoon, an executive director at SGC Energy. "Because the AI data center business is a new growth pillar for the company, we will do everything possible to push the project forward without setbacks."

The partnership underscores a broader industry trend in which energy companies are leveraging specialized power and cooling expertise to build AI-ready infrastructure from the ground up. As hyperscale and enterprise AI deployments continue to drive unprecedented demand for high-density computing, integrated solutions such as PowerNexus are increasingly viewed as critical enablers for reducing deployment timelines and operational complexity. For SGC Energy, the venture represents a strategic diversification beyond its traditional energy business, positioning the company to capture value from the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure market in Asia Pacific.