Contribution to Forbes

'How efficiently and reliably heat can be dissipated is what matters'

LG Electronics CEO Ryu Jae-cheol. [LG Electronics]
LG Electronics CEO Ryu Jae-cheol. [LG Electronics]

LG Electronics CEO Ryu Jae-cheol has again underscored the importance of cooling technology as a core competitive factor for AI data centers.

In a contribution published Monday (local time) in Forbes Technology Council, a forum run by US business outlet Forbes, Ryu said cooling technology is emerging as a central element of AI infrastructure competitiveness.

"The cooling system of an AI data center is core infrastructure that determines computing performance and operational efficiency," Ryu wrote. Beyond the power usage effectiveness (PUE) index traditionally used to assess data center efficiency, he said, "how efficiently and reliably the cooling system can dissipate heat across varying conditions — power supply, water resources and climate — is becoming increasingly important."

As power demand at AI data centers surges, improving the energy efficiency of cooling systems can also help secure the electricity needed for computation.

Tailored cooling solutions that account for regional conditions — including water scarcity, power constraints and environmental regulation — are also considered essential for the stable and sustainable operation of data centers.

"The performance of an AI data center is determined by an integrated thermal management system in which coolant distribution units, heat exchangers, piping, pumps, chillers and control solutions are organically connected," Ryu said, adding that "system integration capabilities and operational optimization technology will become even more important going forward."

The emphasis is on not just the performance of individual cooling components, but the ability to connect diverse equipment into a single system and optimize it for the operating environment.

Meanwhile, LG Electronics is developing liquid-cooling-based thermal management — including coolant distribution units and large-scale chillers — as a future growth engine, in step with the expansion of the AI data center market.

The company has been broadening its presence in the sector, recently signing a long-term supply agreement with North American infrastructure platform company Air Control Concepts to provide AI data center cooling solutions totaling 5 GW in capacity.


gil@heraldcorp.com