Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market Size
| Study Period | 2021 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Volume (2025) | 74.40 Billion liters |
| Market Volume (2030) | 154.93 Billion liters |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 15.80% |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market Analysis
The Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market size is estimated at 74.40 billion liters in 2025, and is expected to reach 154.93 billion liters by 2030, at a CAGR of 15.8% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
- IT Load Capacity: The IT load capacity of South Korea's colocation data center market is around 1,297.9 MW in 2024.
- Geographical Significance: South Korea experiences a climate marked by cold, relatively dry winters and hot, humid summers. In winter, average monthly temperatures plunge below freezing, except along the southern coast. For instance, January temperatures in Seoul hover in the low 20s °F (around −5 °C), whereas Busan, situated on the southeast coast, sees averages in the mid-30s °F (approximately 2 °C). In contrast, summer temperatures remain consistent nationwide, with August, the warmest month, averaging in the high 70s °F (about 25 °C). Our research indicates that South Korea's water consumption is projected to exceed 64 billion liters in 2024.
- Raised Floor Space: South Korea's colocation data center raised floor space is about 4.65 million sq. ft in 2024.
- Projected Installed Racks: In 2024, South Korea is set to install over 185,000 racks in its colocation data centers.
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market Trends
Advancements in Internet Services Drive Rising Demand for Colocation Data Centers
- As of 2024, South Korea boasts a colocation IT load capacity of approximately 1,297.9 MW.
- Broadband internet services have propelled Korea to the forefront of global internet dominance. The nation's internet landscape is primarily shaped by three major ISPs: KT Corp, SK Broadband, and LG Uplus. As of 2022, Speedtest by Ookla ranked Korea seventh globally, boasting broadband speeds of 104.81 Mbps. Yet, recent years have seen a dip in network infrastructure investments and a sluggish digital transformation, attributed to revamped telecommunication regulations. A pivotal moment came in May 2020, when Korea's National Assembly greenlit the Content Providers' Traffic Stabilization Law, mandating that major content providers ensure their content remains reliably accessible.
- In October 2024, Digital Edge inaugurated the first phase of its new data center campus in Seoul, South Korea. This week, the company announced that SEL2, its second data center in the Seoul metropolitan area and third in the country, is now operational.
Surge in ICT Sector and 5G Rollouts Propel Demand for Mega Data Centers in South Korea
- The ICT industry drives economic growth. Telecom equipment and services adapt to market demands and tech trends, investing in innovations that boost the ICT sector. This increases the need for large data centers to manage rising data traffic and consumption.
- The South Korean government has lowered entry barriers for cloud computing, inviting competition from foreign giants like Amazon and Microsoft. Despite concerns from local firms like KT and Naver, experts see new opportunities, driving demand for domestic data centers.
- In May 2023, South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy, announced plans to develop a supercomputer for industrial applications, aiming to close its technological gap in AI, crucial for future businesses like ChatGPT.
- By 2025, South Korea will start its seventh supercomputer project, targeting exaflop performance. The ongoing development of the sixth supercomputer, aiming for 600 petaflops, will boost demand for cooling solutions due to increased data processing capabilities.
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Industry Overview
In the moderately fragmented landscape of South Korea's water consumption data center market, five key players stand out. Leading the charge are Equinix Inc, KT Co., Ltd, SK Inc., Telstra Corporation, and LG CNS Co., Ltd.
Equinix is taking significant strides towards achieving water positivity. Their initiatives include using fuel cells to save billions of gallons of water, leveraging deep lake water cooling, and employing Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) in conjunction with free air cooling to reduce power consumption, among other efforts. Additionally, Equinix is committed to exploring innovative technologies and sustainable practices to further enhance their water conservation and energy efficiency goals. By integrating these advanced solutions, Equinix aims to set a benchmark in the industry for environmental responsibility and resource management.
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market Leaders
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Equinix, Inc.
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KT Co.,
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SK Inc.
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LG CNS Co., Ltd.
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Telstra Corporation
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market News
- November 2024: ITCen Group, a Korean IT service management firm, has partnered with data center operator Aquatron, signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish an AI-optimized data center in South Korea. This new facility aims for carbon neutrality and will implement direct-to-chip liquid cooling. The companies project the facility will achieve a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.051, capture 95% of its carbon emissions for green cement production, and judiciously manage resources like water.
- May 2024: Tomorrow Water, a subsidiary of Korea's BKT, has proposed building data centers at water treatment plants in cities to reduce the environmental impact of both. The company has a process that replaces settlement tanks at the sewage plant with biological reactors, saving space. Waste heat from data centers can warm the biological systems, and help dry sludge, providing cool air for the data centers.
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Industry Segmentation
The study tracks the critical applications of water for running a large data centers, such as DC cooling, and power generation. The study also includes key applications based on the Water Consumption in Data Centers. The study also includes the overall water consumption based on the DC footprint across regions in terms of billion liters. Lastly, the study tracks the underlying trends and developments conceptualized by leading industry data center operators and cloud service providers.
The Study of Data Center Water Consumption in South Korea is Segmented by Source of Water Procurement (Potable Water, Non-Potable Water, Other Alternate Sources), by Data Center Type (Enterprise, Colocation, Cloud Service Providers), and by Data Center Size (Mega, Massive, Large, Medium, Small). The Market Sizes and Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Volume (Billion Liters).
| Market Segmentation - By Source of Water Procurement | Potable Water (Via Regional Water Utility Companies, Local Water Authorities or Private Companies) |
| Non-Potable Water (It Includes greywater (Treated Sewage or Recycled Water) | |
| Other Alternate Source (It includes on-site Groundwater, Surface Water, Seawater, Water produced via a byproduct of oil and gas extraction, and Rainwater) | |
| Market Segmentation - By Data Center Type | Enterprise |
| Colocation | |
| Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) | |
| Market Segmentation - By Data Center Size | Mega |
| Massive | |
| Large | |
| Medium | |
| Small |
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market Research Faqs
How big is the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market?
The Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market size is expected to reach 74.40 billion liters in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 15.80% to reach 154.93 billion liters by 2030.
What is the current Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market size?
In 2025, the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market size is expected to reach 74.40 billion liters.
Who are the key players in Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market?
Equinix, Inc., KT Co.,, SK Inc., LG CNS Co., Ltd. and Telstra Corporation are the major companies operating in the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market.
What years does this Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market size was estimated at 62.64 billion liters. The report covers the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market historical market size for years: 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Study Of Data Center Water Consumption In South Korea analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
