With LG Uplus, GS Caltex extends data center immersion cooling.

GS Caltex has expanded its footprint in the data centre cooling market by supplying its immersion cooling oil to LG Uplus, marking a significant step in the commercialization of advanced cooling technologies.

The South Korean energy company has begun delivering its Kixx Immersion Fluid S 30 to a demonstration site at LG Uplus’s hyperscale data centre in Pyeongchon 2. This partnership aims to validate the stability and efficiency of operating AI servers within a liquid immersion environment.

Immersion cooling involves submerging electronic equipment, such as servers and batteries, in a non-conductive fluid, allowing for more efficient heat dissipation compared to traditional air cooling. This technology is increasingly being adopted to handle the high thermal loads generated by artificial intelligence infrastructure, while also providing energy and environmental benefits.

GS Caltex’s Kixx Immersion Fluid S 30 is based on polyalphaolefin (PAO), a material used in demanding applications such as fighter jet electronics, pharmaceutical and food-grade lubricants, and cosmetics. The fluid has a high flash point exceeding 250°C and is engineered to deliver safety, reliability, and reduced environmental impact in heat-intensive data centre environments.

“Through this supply and collaboration, we aim to further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of data centres by utilizing liquid immersion cooling solutions,” said a GS Caltex representative. “We will continue to advance immersion cooling technology and expand its market presence to improve the energy performance of the data centre industry.”

Since launching Korea’s first immersion cooling oil in 2023, GS Caltex has partnered with both domestic and international players to verify product performance and drive adoption. Key collaborators include Korean firms Databin, SDT, and Samhwa Ace, with whom the company has conducted extensive compatibility and stability testing.

In 2024, GS Caltex supplied immersion cooling oil to Samsung SDS data centres and partnered with U.S.-based Supermicro to build an immersion cooling system at its Daejeon Technology Research Centre. This facility is now conducting in-house performance and thermal management evaluations for AI server applications.

To serve a broader range of industries, GS Caltex has expanded its immersion coolant portfolio into four product variants, addressing not only data centre cooling but also the thermal management needs of electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems (ESS). The company continues to pursue cross-sector collaborations to validate its solutions across various applications.