SK Enmove announced on the 23rd that it has partnered with LG Electronics to jointly develop next-generation refrigerants, refrigeration oils, and immersion cooling technologies for home appliances, commercial equipment, and industrial applications. The MOU signing ceremony held at the SK Serin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 21st was attended by top executives from both companies, including Kim Won-ki, president of SK Enmove, and Lee Jae-seong, president of LG Electronics' ES Business Division.
Under this agreement, both companies will jointly develop next-generation refrigerants to address global environmental regulations. Refrigerants are key media that transfer heat in refrigeration, air conditioning, and other equipment. As global environmental regulations tighten, demand is growing for next-generation refrigerants that emit fewer greenhouse gases and offer superior cooling and heating performance.
The companies will also jointly develop refrigeration oils optimized for home appliance refrigerators/freezers and air conditioning units. Refrigeration oils are fluids that reduce friction and wear inside refrigeration, freezing equipment, and refrigeration systems, helping ensure stable equipment operation.
Joint research on immersion cooling technology to maximize cooling efficiency in data centers and industrial thermal management systems will also be pursued. Immersion cooling is a technology that directly submerges servers and heat-generating components in insulating cooling fluids to dissipate heat. It offers higher cooling efficiency compared to conventional air-cooling methods, making it a key solution for next-generation thermal management fields such as data centers.
Through this agreement, both companies plan to jointly evaluate the feasibility of applying next-generation refrigerants, refrigeration oils, and immersion cooling technologies in Yangsan after verifying their performance and conducting demonstration tests. They have also agreed to prioritize cooperation in the commercialization process of jointly developed technologies and products.
SK Enmove is advancing the commercialization of next-generation refrigerants and refrigeration oil products, as well as developing immersion cooling fluids, based on its R&D (research and development) capabilities accumulated in high-performance lubricating oils, premium lubricants, and thermal management fields. Last year, following its merger with SK On, the company expanded its business scope into electric vehicle battery thermal management, among other areas, continuously broadening its operations.
Kim Won-ki, president of SK Enmove, stated, "Thermal management technology is a key factor determining energy efficiency and product performance. Through our collaboration with LG Electronics, we will accelerate the development of next-generation refrigerants, refrigeration oils, and immersion cooling technologies, and expand business opportunities across various industrial sectors."
Lee Jae-seong, president of LG Electronics' ES Business Division, said, "The importance of high-efficiency thermal management technology is rapidly increasing across diverse industries, including AI data centers. By combining LG Electronics' differentiated air conditioning and cooling technology capabilities with SK Enmove's refrigerant and refrigeration oil expertise, we will strengthen competitiveness in next-generation thermal management solutions and continue to discover new business opportunities in the global market."
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