Discarded LNG Cold Energy Cools AI Data Centers

Cold energy once discarded in LNG processing is now being used to cool servers in AI data centers. As the artificial intelligence industry has grown, the use of high-performance GPUs has increased, causing server heat output to surge — and the electricity needed to cool servers running around the clock has emerged as a new challenge.

Geo Force, an environmental company in South Jeolla Province, and a team of researchers have developed technology that uses LNG cold energy to cool data centers, drawing attention as a new circular energy model for the AI era. Natural gas is imported in liquid form at temperatures of minus 160 degrees Celsius or lower for transport, then converted to gas for use. The technology captures the cold energy released as LNG turns into gas and channels it through insulated piping to cool AI data center servers. Because it reuses energy that would otherwise be wasted, it has the advantage of reducing the electricity required for cooling.

The related technology has been patented not only in South Korea but also in the United States. Geo Force CEO Ha Jung-seok said that supplying cold energy to the infrastructure that drives AI services would allow stable operation of services and growth.

However, practical application is said to require real-world testing in connection with LNG supply facilities as well as verification of economic viability and safety. The researchers stressed that interest and participation from the government, Korea Gas Corporation, and local governments are urgently needed.