LNG Highlighted by Semiconductor and Data Center Power Demand

LNG, which had received less attention for some time amid the ecofriendly trend, is becoming important again as semiconductor factories and AI data centers expand. This is because the number of large facilities that require a stable 24hour power supply is increasing, creating a need for power sources that can compensate for the limitations of renewable energy, whose output varies depending on the weather. Major countries such as the United States, Germany, and Japan are also moving to expand gasfired power generation or secure longterm LNG supplies. In the United States, new gasfired power development has increased significantly, centered on data center power demand, and Germany is also pushing ahead with bids for longduration facilities to ensure power stability. In South Korea as well, industry players such as Samsung Electronics are calling for an expanded role for LNG, nuclear power, and combined heat and power generation. The government has been promoting the expansion of renewable energy, but given the power demand of national projects such as ultralarge semiconductor fabs and AI data centers, there are calls for LNG to be included as a power grid stabilization measure.