Jeollanam-do Focuses on Establishing Energy-Specialized AI Data Center and Fostering New Industries

KEPCO KDN, Haenam County, and Southwest Coast Enterprise City Development Sign Agreement
Integrated Management and Infrastructure for Production, Consumption, Grid, and Storage

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, signed a business agreement on the afternoon of the 8th at the Jeollanam-do Provincial Office's Jeong Yak-yong Room with Jeonnam Province, Korea Electric Power Data Network (KEPCO KDN), Haenam County, and Southwest Coast Enterprise City Development Co., Ltd. to establish an energy-specialized AI data center and foster AI and new energy industries. Provided by Jeonnam Province

On January 8, Jeollanam-do signed a business agreement with Korea Electric Power Data Network (KEPCO KDN), Haenam County, and Southwest Coast Enterprise City Development Co., Ltd. to establish an energy-specialized AI data center and foster new industries in AI and energy.

The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do; Park Sanghyung, President of KEPCO KDN; Myeong Hyun-gwan, Mayor of Haenam County; and Kim Dae-han, CEO of Southwest Coast Enterprise City Development Co., Ltd.

The main focus of the agreement is to build an energy-specialized AI data center in Solaseado and to foster new industries in AI and energy by sharing the energy database with the private sector. The initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of local industries, revitalize the regional economy, and establish a sustainable industrial ecosystem.

The energy-specialized AI data center will integrate and manage key energy data such as production, consumption, grid, and storage (ESS), and will establish a data infrastructure that enables AI analysis and utilization. Based on this, the province plans to develop energy AI services, conduct new industry demonstrations, and foster data-driven companies within the region.

Jeollanam-do also plans to collaborate with KEPCO KDN to nurture professional talent in the energy and data center sectors, establish a business support center for resident companies, and discover demonstration project packages, thereby strengthening efforts to build the local AI industry ecosystem.

In particular, as there is an urgent need to build AI infrastructure to improve energy efficiency and expand renewable energy, the participation of KEPCO KDN, which possesses technological and operational expertise in energy ICT and data, is significant for enhancing the professionalism and execution of the project.

With the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment recently launching the 'Climate and Energy DX·AX Strategy Task Force' and planning to actively discuss data standardization and sharing, the establishment of dedicated energy AI data centers, and the development of convergent energy-AI technologies and talent, Jeollanam-do is drawing attention for proactively establishing a field-oriented energy AX (AI transformation) hub in line with central government policy.

With this initiative, Jeollanam-do plans to gradually establish a functionally specialized 'Jeonnam AI Data Center Cluster' by linking key infrastructure such as the National AI Computing Center, the joint global data center by OpenAI and SK, the recently launched Jangseong Pine Data Center, and the newly planned energy-specialized AI data center.

Governor Kim Youngrok emphasized, "This agreement will serve as a starting point for Jeollanam-do to become a global hub for AI and new energy industries and research."