SK Innovation Unveils Integrated Energy Solution Targeting AI Data Centers
Production, Storage, and Supply Technologies Showcased at WCE 2026
SK Innovation is presenting an integrated energy solution that combines various energy sources—including renewable energy, battery energy storage systems (BESS), small modular reactors (SMR), and liquefied natural gas (LNG)—to meet soaring power demand from sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
On September 16, SK Innovation announced that it will participate in the 2026 World Climate Expo (WCE), to be held from September 16 to 18 at BEXCO in Haeundae, Busan. This year’s WCE takes place under the theme “Massive Change through Climate Tech: A Leap Towards a Decarbonized World.”
Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, has recently emphasized the importance of “integrated energy solutions” that leverage a mix of diverse energy sources—solutions that SK Innovation can deliver, particularly in the “electrification” that underpins AI-based energy solutions and AI data centers.
The main highlight of this exhibition is the combination of different energy sources—including renewables, BESS, SMR, and LNG—tailored to the characteristics of each electricity demand center. SK Innovation is accelerating its transition into an integrated energy company, managing everything from production and storage to supply and operational optimization.
SK Innovation will first showcase the current status and expansion plans of its renewable energy business. As of late May, the company has secured a global renewable energy pipeline of approximately 5.3 GW. In addition, it is expanding operations with solar and wind power projects in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.
One of the key examples is the offshore wind project in Jeonnam, which, as Korea’s first large-scale, privately led offshore wind project, began commercial operations in May last year. SK Innovation plans to scale the project up to 900 MW to further enhance the competitiveness of its domestic renewable energy business.
The company will also exhibit its BESS, which compensates for the intermittency of renewables. BESS stores surplus power generated from renewables for delivery when needed. SK On has adopted predictive battery management technologies to improve safety and engineered the packs for greater operational efficiency and system scalability. The combination of renewables and BESS enables a more stable supply of electricity to energy-intensive users, such as AI data centers.
SK will also introduce its next-generation clean energy business: small modular reactors. In partnership with TerraPower, SK is working to build an advanced SMR ecosystem. In March, TerraPower’s sodium SMR project, currently under construction in Wyoming, became the first commercial-scale advanced nuclear plant in the U.S. to receive a construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The sodium-cooled reactor stands out for its high safety and flexible output operation. Its ability to adjust output according to electricity demand makes it a promising future energy source for large-scale consumers like AI data centers that require a stable power supply.
LNG combined heat and power generation is also presented as a major energy source. Building on its LNG value chain, SK Innovation is expanding its distributed generation business for large users, such as data centers, by providing both electricity and heat.
SK Group’s AI-related technologies are being showcased as well. SK Innovation is unveiling its AI-based “Intelligent Power Plant,” which enables the integrated, efficient operation of various energy sources. Also on display are SK Telecom’s “AI Factory” and SK hynix’s high-bandwidth memory (HBM).
Hot Picks Today
"300,000 Won Grant" Shelved at Chuseok to Go to All Residents After All... This City Says It Will Pay Before Lunar New Year
- "Didn't Save This Money to Leave to Our Kids?"... Retired Couples Spend $10,000 on a Single Trip
- "Make $10 Million by Flipping It Right After Delivery?"... The Market Drawing the World's Ultra-Rich in ‘This Market’
- Friend Who Went Abroad Goes "Silent"... 617 South Koreans Out of Contact, What's Going On?
- "Stockpile 9 Liters of Bottled Water and Three Days' Worth of Food"... UK on Edge as Nationwide Emergency Preparedness Alert Issued
An SK Innovation official stated, “The growth of the AI industry requires energy solutions capable of delivering stable, large-scale power supplies. We plan to provide customized integrated energy solutions for each customer by leveraging various energy sources such as renewables, BESS, SMR, and LNG combined heat and power generation.”
© The Asia Business Daily. All rights reserved. Unauthorized AI training and use prohibited.
