A grid code is a set of technical standards that electricity facilities, such as power plants and energy storage systems (ESS), must meet when connecting to or operating on the power grid. Its central purpose is to maintain a stable power system by setting conditions necessary for electricity supply, including voltage, frequency and power quality. Grid codes specify the performance and operating conditions required of electricity facilities. They stipulate the conditions under which facilities must remain in operation when power system disturbances occur, and how they should respond to voltage and frequency fluctuations. They cover everything from grid connection requirements for generating facilities to response procedures in the event of a fault. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) data centers have attracted attention as a new application for grid codes. This is because the power consumption of graphics processing units (GPUs) used for AI training and inference changes sharply according to their computational workload. AI data centers housing large numbers of GPUs can experience substantial changes in electricity demand over short periods, potentially straining existing grids. According to the government, AI data centers can experience megawatt-scale power fluctuations at intervals of 0.001 seconds (1 millisecond). In August, the government launched an AI data center study group and began developing a dedicated grid code for data centers. It plans to analyze the effects of large fluctuations in electricity demand on the power system and develop technical requirements suited to Korea's grid conditions. It is also reviewing ways to use ESS and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to moderate rapid changes in electricity consumption. The introduction of a grid code is expected to affect how AI data centers connect to and operate on the grid. Data center developers may need to build or upgrade electricity facilities to meet the new technical standards. While the industry agrees on the need to ensure grid stability, it is concerned about the costs and land requirements associated with installing additional equipment such as ESS. The detailed standards the government develops are also expected to affect the cost of building AI data centers in Korea and the conditions for investment.
Original Korean article: ETNews
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
