AI Power Grid Tools Take Center Stage at Korea's BIXPO

The rapid global expansion of data centers, projected to nearly double electricity consumption to 950 terawatt-hours in 2030 from 485 terawatt-hours in 2025, presents a significant challenge for existing power grids. Building new grid infrastructure can take five to 15 years, while data centers may be constructed in one to three years. This disparity creates transmission line shortages, particularly in South Korea's greater Seoul area, driving utilities to maximize the efficiency and capacity of current infrastructure.

One key approach is dynamic line rating (DLR), which KEPCO exhibited. This technology calculates how much power can be safely transmitted in real-time by considering actual conditions like temperature and wind, rather than relying on conservative static assumptions. A government pilot program for DLR is underway in Jinan and Geumsan, adjusting transmission limits to match seasonal peak temperatures. In the United States, a utility using DLR sensors raised transmission limits by 6% to 14% on equipped lines.

Further enhancing grid management, KEPCO also showcased an AI-based virtual grid. This model replicates actual power plants, substations, and transmission lines on a computer, allowing it to determine where electricity will concentrate if more plants are added and where spare capacity exists for data centers. KEPCO plans to validate this technology within the year, with applications for Jeju and Honam regions beginning in 2027. Separately, Iljin Electric, in collaboration with KEPCO, has deployed 154-kilovolt polypropylene-insulated cables capable of carrying over 10% more power than conventional products, offering a physical upgrade to existing lines.