LG, GS E&C and GRC sign an immersion cooling MoU a year into LG's Pyeongtaek trials

The MoU could end up as standard designs that an operator builds from, as a test bed that stays a test bed, or as a GRC tank specification with LG's equipment and GS E&C's drawings fitted around it. We think the first is the likeliest, and the reason is who is new at the table. GS E&C is the only signatory that was not in the Pyeongtaek demonstrations ^[18]. LG has run those with SK Enmove and GRC since October last year, according to the Seoul Economic Daily ^[8], about 12 months before the signing ^[16]. SK Enmove, with which LG agreed last month to develop immersion cooling and next-generation refrigerants ^[9], is not a party to the MoU ^[1].

Oh Se-ki, head of LG's Eco Solution research center ^[13], described the work as a continuation. "To take an early lead in the fast-growing market for AI data center cooling solutions, we will continue research and development on high-performance, high-efficiency cooling solutions," Oh said ^[11].

The split is one scope per party. GRC supplies tanks and controls ^[3], GS E&C writes the designs and checks layout, structural loads, piping and power connections ^[4], and LG contributes cooling technology it developed in-house ^[14]. LG's named products number four, and immersion would make five ^[17]; none of the four is a tank ^[6]. On that description the immersion-specific hardware comes from the US partner, and the Korean content is the heat-rejection equipment and the building design. If the value sits in the chiller chain and the building, LG and GS E&C hold most of it. If it sits in tanks and controls, GRC does.

We would call the thesis wrong if no operator specifies the standard designs, or if the test bed that GS E&C will operate, according to the Korea Herald ^[5], ends with GRC's tank as the fixed reference and LG's equipment as optional.