Goal to Provide Thermal Management Fluids to GRC Global Data Center Customers
Strengthening Thermal Management Technology Development
[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] SK Enmove has received certification for thermal fluids used in data center immersion cooling systems, officially launching its thermal management solutions business.
Data center immersion cooling refers to a next-generation thermal management technology that directly immerses data servers in cooling oil. It is known to have superior cooling efficiency compared to the conventional air-cooling method (which uses air as the cooling medium), thereby reducing power consumption.
On the 20th, SK Enmove announced that it will participate in the "ElectroSafe Fluids Partner Program" operated by the US-based immersion cooling system specialist GRC.
This program is designed by GRC to evaluate, verify, and certify thermal fluids used in immersion cooling systems. Through this program, GRC aims not only to secure the functionality and reliability of the fluids but also to provide thermal management solutions that meet customer expectations in terms of data center energy efficiency, cooling capacity, and safety.
Through this partnership, SK Enmove plans to supply its self-developed high-quality base oils used as thermal fluids to GRC’s global data center customers. Additionally, it intends to strengthen cooperation with GRC in developing new thermal management technologies used in immersion cooling systems.
Last year, SK Enmove made an equity investment of $25 million (approximately 32.4 billion KRW) in GRC. This was to jointly develop fluids using high-quality base oils and data center immersion cooling systems, and to promote standardization and commercialization to capture the related market. In particular, SK Enmove plans to nurture the thermal management business using premium base oils as thermal fluids as a future growth engine and grow into a comprehensive liquid-based thermal management solution provider.
In fact, the immersion cooling system thermal fluids developed by SK Enmove are characterized by improved cooling efficiency and enhanced fire safety. They are designed to be used until the equipment reaches the end of its life and to be recyclable or reusable even after equipment dismantling.
Wonki Kim, Head of Green Growth Division at SK Enmove, said, “Interest in energy efficiency in the data center market is increasing, and demand for thermal management solutions is rapidly growing. Through this partnership, we will gradually expand our business scope from the lubricant business to the thermal management solutions business.”
Ben Smith, GRC CPO (Chief Product Officer), said, “The two companies have been steadily cooperating to apply SK Enmove’s fluids to GRC products. Through this partnership, our global customers will be able to receive a wider range of products related to data center cooling.”
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