Gwangyang Steelworks Data Center Achieves 'Green Data Center Certification' Milestone

Annual Savings of 230,000 kWh Through Energy Efficiency Measures

POSCO's ESG Management Stands Out in Practicing Carbon Neutrality

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks' data center announced that it has received the 'Green Data Center Bronze Grade Certification' awarded by the Korea Data Center Association in recognition of its achievements in energy efficiency improvement activities such as reducing power consumption.

The 'Green Data Center Certification' is the only data center certification system in Korea that evaluates the energy use efficiency and reduction efforts of data centers. Since 2012, 23 centers out of approximately 160 data centers nationwide have obtained this certification.

The certification evaluation is conducted based on two criteria: PUE, an indicator representing the power usage efficiency of the data center, and efforts in green activities. PUE quantifies how efficiently power is used in operating IT equipment in the data center and is a representative indicator of the data center's energy efficiency.

When the evaluation recognizes excellent energy efficiency, certification is granted in four grades: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Among the 23 data centers that have obtained certification so far, the distribution is ▲3 Platinum, ▲4 Gold, ▲4 Silver, and ▲12 Bronze.

To improve the power usage efficiency of the data center, POSCO first optimized the cooling methods of major IT equipment such as server rooms, which consume a significant amount of power. Previously, the outlets of temperature and humidity control units (CRAC units) were open even in areas without IT equipment installed, but POSCO limited the openings to locations where equipment is actually installed, preventing unnecessary power consumption.

Additionally, POSCO minimized power loss by operating a direct water supply method alongside the existing pump method for supplying cooling water to the building, thereby reducing pump operating time. They also changed the cooling water circulation pump for the CRAC units from supplying a uniform amount year-round to supplying water dynamically according to usage.

Furthermore, by applying ventilation air conditioners, which were previously operated only in offices, to the computer rooms as well, POSCO reduced the load on the CRAC units in the computer rooms, thereby lowering power consumption. Improvements were also made to operate air conditioners at appropriate ventilation levels to minimize cooling and heating energy loss.

POSCO expects to save 230,000 kWh of annual power consumption after these efficiency improvements and plans to continuously promote ESG activities such as power usage efficiency improvements to reduce carbon emissions in various IT environments, including data centers.

Park Jin-su, Deputy General Manager of the Information Planning Group at POSCO Digital Innovation Office, said, "This certification is an achievement that demonstrates POSCO's commitment and efforts toward carbon neutrality." He added, "We will continue to pursue power consumption reduction of IT equipment and improve energy use efficiency in cooling and heating at the Pohang data center, which postponed certification to next year to focus on recovery efforts from the cold wave damage."

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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