Business · Energy & Commodities · 2 hrs ago
South Korea needs to build power lines six times faster, adviser warns
South Korea’s vice chair of the National Economic Advisory Council says power lines must be built six times faster to support major semiconductor and AI projects.
About 70% of transmission lines due by 2030 have not started construction, he said at a Seoul seminar.
The projects are expected to add 30 gigawatts of electricity demand, while transmission lines take an average of 13 years to build.
Data centers may need power within three to four years, so some facilities could be finished before the grid can supply them.
An energy adviser proposed prioritizing projects with confirmed demand, requiring data center operators to pay to reserve power, and giving local governments annual support for hosting infrastructure.
He also proposed a dedicated team that would set project priorities and cost-sharing rules within six months, with construction starting within 36 months.
More power infrastructure and measures to keep the grid stable could add to pressure for higher electricity bills.
South Korea must build power lines six times faster to meet the electricity needs of major semiconductor and artificial intelligence projects, an adviser warned.
About 70% of transmission projects due for completion by 2030 have not started construction, said Kim Seong-sik, vice chairman of the National Economic Advisory Council.
The three major projects are expected to require an additional 30 gigawatts of power.
Transmission lines take an average of 13 years to build, while data centres need electricity within three to four years.
A conference speaker proposed measures to prioritise viable projects, secure local consent and begin construction within 36 months.
- Who
- Kim Seong-sik, vice chairman of South Korea’s National Economic Advisory Council, warned of the need to speed up power-line construction.
- What
- South Korea needs to build transmission lines six times faster to meet growing electricity demand.
- When
- Kim made the warning on October 28.
- Where
- At a seminar in Seoul jointly held with Seoul National University’s Institute for Future Strategy.
- Why
- Electricity demand from major semiconductor and AI projects is rising, while power-line construction is delayed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kim Seong-sik warned at a Seoul seminar that transmission lines must be built six times faster.
A proposal called for construction to begin after a dedicated organisation sets project priorities and cost-sharing principles within six months.
- Unstarted projects
- About 70% of transmission capacity due for completion by 2030
- Required increase
- Six times the current construction speed
- Additional demand
- 30 GW for three major projects
- Average construction time
- 13 years for transmission lines
- Data-centre lead time
- Three to four years
What people are saying
About 70% of the transmission-line capacity due for completion by 2030 has not started construction.
To meet the amount that must be built by 2038, we need to build transmission lines six times faster than we do now.