Discussion of Joint Policy Initiatives on AI Data Center Power Management, Carbon Neutrality, and Global Cooperation
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment are strengthening their cooperation framework to address both the increase in electricity demand driven by the expansion of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry and the pursuit of carbon neutrality. On November 21, Ryu Jemyung, Second Vice Minister of Science and ICT, and Lee Hohyun, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, held a policy meeting in Jung-gu, Seoul, to discuss joint response measures across the AI, electricity, and energy sectors.
This meeting was organized amid the recent trend of expanding global AI and energy cooperation by the government, including securing 260,000 NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs) through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), participation in the Stargate initiative in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation with BlackRock. Both ministries agreed on the need for a proactive response to the impact of rapid increases in public and private AI infrastructure investment on electricity demand as the AI industry grows.
During the meeting, the two ministries discussed cooperation plans focusing on major AI and energy policy issues, including: ▲ promoting the relocation of AI data centers to regions outside the capital area, ▲ revitalizing special zones for distributed energy, ▲ reviewing data center electricity demand, ▲ improving electricity regulations, and ▲ expanding global cooperation. They also agreed on the importance of using AI to address climate change and achieve carbon neutrality.
Vice Minister Ryu Jemyung stated, "AI is the core of national competitiveness. The two ministries will work as one team to ensure that AI infrastructure is built in a timely manner and will support AI's contribution to carbon neutrality." Vice Minister Lee Hohyun also said, "We will make every policy effort to respond stably to the increasing electricity demand that accompanies the energy transition."
The two vice ministers agreed to continue close cooperation in the implementation of AI, electricity, and carbon neutrality policies, and to operate various communication channels from working-level staff to vice-ministerial level. The two ministries also plan to jointly establish an AI and energy task force, with industry participation, in the near future.
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