Science & Tech · AI · 18 hrs ago
Chungbuk seeks regulatory-free zone for AI data center cooling
South Korea’s Chungbuk province is seeking a regulatory-free zone to expand AI data centers and water-based energy use.
The proposal would test using treated and industrial water to cool data centers, then using heat from the centers to supply warmth.
A regulatory-free zone lets businesses test new technologies with temporary exemptions or permits while safety is assessed.
The proposed sites are Osong in Cheongju, where an AI and bio data center is planned, and the industrial area of Yongtan in Chungju.
The project is planned for 2028 to 2031, with a total budget of 24 billion won from national, local and private funding.
Chungbuk says the tests could help bring water-based cooling and waste-heat reuse into commercial use and support clean-energy businesses.
The province must first pass the national government’s evaluation, which is expected to select about four projects.
North Chungcheong Province is seeking a regulatory-free zone to test cooling and heat-reuse technologies for AI data centers.
Its proposal would use treated and industrial water from industrial complexes to cool data centers and reuse waste heat for heating.
The proposed sites are Osong in Cheongju and the Yongan area of Chungju.
The project is estimated to run from January 2028 to December 2031, with a total budget of 24 billion won.
The province said it would prepare for written and presentation evaluations to win selection in the central government’s competition.
- Who
- North Chungcheong Province.
- What
- It has proposed an industrial-complex-based regulatory-free zone to test water-source cooling for AI data centers and the use of their waste heat.
- When
- The proposed project would run from January 2028 to December 2031. Candidate proposals are being sought from this month through April next year.
- Where
- Osong in Cheongju and the Yongan area of Chungju, South Korea.
- Why
- The province aims to commercialize cooling and waste-heat technologies and build a local clean-heat business model.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is set to receive candidate proposals from local governments outside the capital region and select around four suitable projects.
The proposed project is scheduled to begin.
The proposed project is scheduled to end.
- Proposed zone
- Industrial-complex edge AI data center regulatory-free zone
- Test areas
- Osong in Cheongju and Yongan in Chungju
- Project period
- January 2028–December 2031
- Total budget
- 240 billion won
- Funding
- 140 billion won from the national government, 60 billion won from local government and 40 billion won from private sources
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What people are saying
If a foundation for commercializing and developing water-source cooling and waste-heat utilization technologies through regulatory exceptions is established, it could lead to fostering AI and clean-energy convergence businesses and strengthening the competitiveness of local companies.