LS Electric has proposed a next-generation energy technology, the 'intelligent power grid based on direct current (DC),' to address the surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) power.
Gu Ja-kyun, Chairman of LS Electric, delivered a keynote speech on November 2 at the '2026 International Conference on Electricity Distribution (CIRED)' workshop held at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Seoul. He announced the vision for a next-generation intelligent DC power grid and declared a major shift in the global energy paradigm.
This marks the first time the CIRED workshop, which addresses future standards in the global power industry, has been held in Asia, showcasing South Korea's distribution technology on a global stage alongside traditional powerhouses in North America and Europe.
Gu presented a solution to the power shortages caused by the expansion of AI infrastructure. He stated, "For AI data centers that consume massive amounts of power to operate reliably, a highly reliable power grid must be fully supported. We need to establish a strong virtuous cycle structure where advanced AI can intelligently predict and manage the power grid efficiently."
He identified 'direct current' and 'intelligent platforms' as key elements to complete the future power ecosystem. Gu emphasized, "We must move away from the existing unidirectional transmission method and provide power infrastructure tailored to data centers through a harmony of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). By combining data and AI with power devices, we will leap to an intelligent bidirectional energy platform that can detect anomalies early and flexibly exchange energy."
According to industry sources, the global distribution infrastructure market, including equipment such as switches and transformers, is expected to grow sharply to approximately $150 billion (about 200 trillion won) by 2030.
LS Electric stated, "We plan to lead the global demand for AI power infrastructure based on our DC platform technology."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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