Data center backup power
As the expansion of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry increases electricity demand from data centers, Samchully ES is targeting the market with large-capacity backup power systems. It aims to meet demand for reliable electricity supplies at data centers by combining its experience in distributed generation design, construction and operation with technology from Japanese power generation equipment manufacturer YANMAR.
Samchully ES said it would participate in 2026 Data Center Korea, taking place at the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, from November 4 to November 6, 2026, and showcase YANMAR’s GY175L series (12GY175L) large-capacity backup power system for data centers.
Data centers are facilities where servers and network equipment operate 24 hours a day. A power interruption can cause service disruptions and data loss, making emergency power equipment essential for outages. As the number of servers and cooling facilities needed for AI computing grows, securing both a reliable electricity supply and space efficiency is emerging as a major challenge in data center development.
Generator design and performance
The GY175L series that Samchully ES will introduce at the exhibition is marketed as compact, high-output and highly efficient. Its size has been reduced by more than 60% compared with YANMAR’s existing EY engine, improving the use of generator room space. The design takes into account the need for data centers to accommodate servers alongside power and cooling equipment on limited sites.
The company also highlighted output performance. According to Samchully ES, the product delivers higher output than comparable 2,500 kVA-class products and is designed to supply reliable power in emergencies. Combustion specifications were optimized using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and single-cylinder test results to improve fuel efficiency as well. These findings are based on YANMAR’s own research.
Ease of maintenance is another key product feature. Major service components are grouped on one side to improve accessibility. Even if backup power equipment operates for only limited periods under normal conditions, it must start immediately during an outage, making regular inspections and rapid maintenance important. Alongside equipment size and output, ease of maintenance is a factor affecting operational reliability.
Project experience and market outlook
Samchully ES plans to go beyond supplying generation equipment and attract customers by drawing on its experience in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operations and maintenance (O&M). An affiliate of Samchully Group, Samchully ES has a distributed generation EPC and O&M track record exceeding 600 MW, including 550 MW of fuel cell generation at 36 sites and 66 MW of gas engine generation at 52 sites.
The company has also directly handled its subsidiary Seonam Bioenergy’s approximately 6 MW sewage-treatment biogas power generation facility for more than 10 years, from project development through EPC and operations and maintenance. It intends to apply the experience gained in building and operating power plants to data center backup power. This is because data center developers need to consider not only generator performance but also maintenance after installation and the ability to respond to emergencies.
Samchully ES’s relationship with YANMAR is also cited as a strength. As the exclusive domestic distributor for YANMAR gas heat pumps (GHP), Samchully ES has installed and maintained more than 13,000 units over 25 years. This would provide a foundation for extending the sales and service experience it has accumulated in heating, cooling and air conditioning into power generation equipment.
YANMAR also has extensive business experience in backup power systems. According to 2025 statistics from the Japan Engine Generator Association (NEGA), its share of Japan’s backup power system market reaches 50%. More than 60 years of experience in the power generation business is also presented as a factor supporting product reliability.
As AI services expand, data centers are putting considerable effort into securing locations and power infrastructure capable of providing reliable electricity supplies at scale. Backup generation equipment is also becoming more important as a precaution against disruptions to grid supply or the loss of external power. For data center developers, efficiently using equipment space and managing operating costs have become important challenges alongside securing the electricity they need.
From a stock market perspective, the expansion of data center power infrastructure could create business opportunities for companies involved in generation equipment, power equipment, cooling and air conditioning. However, participation in this exhibition and the product unveiling alone do not confirm an increase in Samchully ES’s orders or earnings. The actual contribution to revenue could vary depending on product supply contracts, data center investment plans and installation results. Because Samchully ES’s parent company, Samchully, is listed, the expansion of data center-related business could attract investor attention if its effect on future earnings is confirmed.
Samchully ES plans to target the data center backup power market by drawing on the EPC and O&M capabilities it has developed in distributed generation and its long-standing cooperation with YANMAR. As AI data center construction continues, whether demand for high-output, high-efficiency generation equipment translates into actual contracts and revenue is expected to be a key factor in further business expansion.
Original Korean article: Pinpoint News
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
