LG Electronics and SK Enmove Join Forces on AI Data Center Cooling
The South Korean companies will jointly develop lower-emission refrigerants, compressor lubricants and immersion cooling systems as demand grows for energy-efficient thermal management in AI infrastructure.
LG Electronics and SK Enmove have agreed to jointly develop next-generation cooling materials and systems for artificial intelligence data centers and other equipment that produces substantial heat, expanding a partnership aimed at the fast-growing thermal-management market.
The South Korean companies said Wednesday that their work will cover lower-emission refrigerants, compressor lubricants and immersion cooling technology for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The collaboration combines LG Electronics’ experience in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems with SK Enmove’s capabilities in developing refrigerants and lubricants.
One focus will be refrigerants with a global warming potential below 150 that do not contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. The partners said the planned materials are intended to meet tightening environmental requirements in Europe, North America and other markets while maintaining cooling performance and safety.
SK Enmove will develop and evaluate refrigerant candidates, while LG Electronics will test whether they are suitable for commercial HVAC products and systems. The companies will also work on compressor lubricants tailored to the new refrigerants. Such oils are designed to reduce friction and wear inside compressors, supporting system reliability, energy efficiency and cost competitiveness.
The agreement also broadens the companies’ existing cooperation on immersion cooling. The method places servers and other heat-generating hardware directly in an electrically non-conductive liquid. It is attracting interest from AI data center operators because it can remove heat more efficiently than conventional air cooling and reduce power use.
LG Electronics and SK Enmove have already been conducting technology trials and exploring commercialization opportunities with Green Revolution Cooling, a United States-based immersion-cooling company. They now plan to assess whether the same approach can be applied beyond data centers, including energy-storage systems, electric-vehicle components and other high-heat electrical equipment.
SK Enmove Chief Executive Kim Wone-kee described thermal management as a critical factor in determining energy efficiency and product performance. Lee Jae-sung, head of LG Electronics’ Eco Solution business, said the partnership would strengthen the companies’ next-generation thermal-management offerings and support new opportunities in global markets.
The collaboration comes as increasingly powerful AI computing systems place greater demands on data center cooling. For LG Electronics and SK Enmove, jointly developing the fluids, lubricants and system-level technology creates a broader product strategy around that demand while preparing for stricter environmental standards in major overseas markets.