Korean IT service management firm ITCen Group and data center operator Aquatron have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build an AI-optimized data center in South Korea.

The new data center facility is set to be carbon-neutral and will use direct-to-chip liquid cooling.

The companies said the facility will have an expected PUE of 1.051 and will capture 95 percent of the carbon generated for green cement production.

Other specifications of the facility have not been shared, but the companies will plan several data center projects overseas as well as domestically.

Michael Kim, CEO of Aquatron, said: “Aquatron, with its 120kW per rack capacity and innovative cooling technology, is delighted to be able to work with ITCen Group to provide ultra-high density, energy-efficient data center solutions for the era of artificial general intelligent to Korea and the world.”

Kang Jin-mo, CEO of ITCen Group, added: “By collaborating with Aquatron, which has innovative data center technology, we can flexibly respond to the needs of the growing AI data center market in all areas from design and construction to operation, which also meeting ESG requirements such as carbon neutrality.”

Aquatron said its existing data centers are optimized for AI and energy efficiency, using natural gas, hydrogen, and ammonia as their primary energy sources. However, there is little information available online about the company or its data centers.

The majority of data centers in South Korea are concentrated in Seoul, with Digital Realty, Empyrion, Equinix, CapitaLand, STT, and Telehouse all having a presence in the city.