South Korea’s Decarbonized AI Powerhouse: Why Nuclear and Renewables Must Triple to Meet Demand
South Korea's Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Seong-hwan stated that AI could nearly triple national electricity demand, but the country will not meet this increase by expanding coal or gas power.
Dick Weisinger
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September 20, 2026 ·
2 min read · Source: 전자신문 ETNews · Issue #102
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This story ran in Issue #102, alongside three other stories.
Policy & Regulation
South Korea’s Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Seong-hwan stated that AI could nearly triple national electricity demand, but the country will not meet this increase by expanding coal or gas power. Instead, Korea aims to become a ‘decarbonized AI powerhouse‘ by significantly expanding renewable energy, supplementing with nuclear power, and developing capabilities to directly build and operate AI data centers.
South Korea, a major semiconductor and data center hub, faces the challenge of reconciling its ambitious AI development goals with carbon neutrality targets. The minister’s comments highlight the country’s strategic shift towards sustainable energy sources and sovereign AI infrastructure amid soaring energy consumption from advanced technology.
