SK Ecoplant, a subsidiary of the SK Group, has inked a memorandum of understanding in Seoul, South Korea, with Lumcloon Energy, a project development company based in Tullamore, Co Offaly, to establish Europe’s inaugural data center powered by fuel cells in Ireland.
As stated by Simon Coveney, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, the collaboration aims to construct the first data center in Europe that harnesses fuel cell technology for its energy needs.
This effort holds strategic significance due to the substantial energy consumption and environmental impact associated with data centers, which has spurred political discussions in recent years.
Coveney emphasized that employing fuel cell technology, initially utilizing natural gas and eventually transitioning to hydrogen, could fundamentally transform the landscape in this field, offering an exciting prospect.
The project’s proponents are enthusiastic about demonstrating the viability of Europe’s premier fuel cell-powered data center, potentially setting a precedent for future data centers.
This partnership exemplifies the collaboration between a dynamic small-to-medium-sized Irish enterprise and a prominent South Korean corporation seeking to establish Ireland not just as a testing ground but as a showcase for pioneering technology.
In September, SK ecoplant already joined forces with GDS to conduct a trial run of fuel cell-based power supply solutions for GDS’s forthcoming data center in Singapore. This trial aims to explore sustainable and environmentally friendly energy options for the data center facility in Singapore.
Coveney noted that South Korea is home to global industry giants like Hyundai, Kia, LG, and Samsung, which are expanding and diversifying their operations beyond South Korea.
These companies are eyeing the European market, and the objective of this mission is to position Ireland as a favorable choice within their expansion plans in Europe.
