The Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in South Korea. Photo courtesy of Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant
July 7 (Asia Today) -- South Korea should redraw its national power supply plan from scratch as electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers and semiconductor plants is expected to exceed earlier government forecasts, energy experts said Tuesday.
The call comes as the government prepares a new power plan while pursuing major projects in AI, semiconductors and advanced industry.
According to the energy industry, the government has announced plans for 18.4 gigawatts of AI data centers and four semiconductor fabrication plants requiring 6.3 gigawatts of power.
If operated around the clock, the AI data centers would require about 161.2 terawatt-hours of electricity a year, while the new semiconductor fabs would need about 55.2 terawatt-hours. Together, they would require an estimated 216.4 terawatt-hours annually.
