Why Can’t AI Data Centers Power Up Immediately, Even Near Power Plants?
In South Korea, growing investment in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is bringing a practical question into focus: If a site is close to a power plant, why can’t it receive electricity and start operating right away? The answer depends on the infrastructure between the generator and the servers. Even where generation capacity is ample, transmission lines and substations must be able to…
In South Korea, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers has raised questions about why they cannot start operating immediately, even when located near power plants. The answer lies in the complex interplay of infrastructure between the power source and the data center servers. While there may be ample generation capacity, the transmission lines and substations must be capable of delivering the required power reliably to the site.
Hana Securities notes that development in South Korea is moving beyond announcements to focus on financing, permitting, construction, and computing supply agreements. However, securing a site near generation capacity is just one part of the process. The availability of power depends on the transmission lines and substations, which act as pipelines and intermediate distribution facilities.
Just like having a water supply facility nearby does little for a large factory if the pipes are too narrow or not connected, having a power plant nearby does not guarantee immediate power supply to a data center. Power plant capacity must be complemented by adequate grid infrastructure.
Brief written by urgent.news from Korea IT Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
