Photograph) Koo Ja-kyun, CEO of LS Electric, Kim Dong-cheol, president of KEPCO, and Koo Bon-kyu, CEO of LS Cable & System (from left), at the MOU ceremony held at LS Yongsan Tower in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 10th.


■ Full-scale promotion of world's first superconducting power grid construction project for IDCs
■ Highly efficient and eco-friendly power infrastructure to respond to era of AI and data centers
■ Advancement of superconducting ecosystem and promotion of joint entry into overseas markets


LS Cable & System and LS Electric announced on the 10th that they have signed an MOU with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) for the construction of a superconducting power grid for data centers.

This project aims to apply superconducting power grids to data centers for the first time in the world, and is expected to be a turning point for next-generation power infrastructure.

A superconducting power grid is a next-generation power system that uses superconducting cables to supply electricity to small stations about one-tenth the size of large substations. These systems can significantly reduce construction costs and improve resident acceptance by drastically reducing installation space and increasing energy efficiency. 

This MOU regards the construction of a high-efficiency and eco-friendly power grid to respond to the increasing demand for electricity caused by the rapid growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) and data center industries.

KEPCO will carry out technology verification and related system establishment for the superconducting systems, while LS Cable & System will design and produce the superconducting cables and LS Electric will supply the superconducting current limiters and power equipment.

The superconducting system enables large-capacity power transmission of 154 kV even at the low voltage of 23 kV, making it possible to expand power supply without building new substations in urban areas. Superconducting current limiters enhance operational reliability by preventing equipment damage and data loss through the immediate interruption of fault current.

“This MOU is a very meaningful starting point in that three companies representing the electric power industry are working together to build the world's first superconducting power grid for data centers,” said Koo Ja-kyun, CEO of LS Electric. “LS Cable & System's superconducting cables and LS Electric's superconducting current limiters will be able to provide the optimal solution for the large-capacity power grid market where reliable eco-friendly power supply is required.”

The three companies plan to establish a standard model for superconducting power grids, activate the industrial ecosystem through the gradual expansion of technology development and verification, and actively pursue entry into overseas markets.