As the government pushes to introduce a "grid code" as a dedicated power-grid connection standard for AI data centres, calls have emerged that existing data centre projects should not be subject to the new standard. The argument is that including already-invested projects in the regulatory scope could lead to higher costs and delays.

Cho Kyung-tae (조경태), a People Power Party lawmaker on the National Assembly Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, urged the Ministry of Science and ICT on Tuesday to respond proactively. He said regulatory application to existing projects should be minimised as a grid code for AI data centres is introduced.

A grid code is a set of connection rules that power plants or large electricity-consuming facilities must follow when linking to the power grid. It requires functions such as maintaining the connection rather than immediately disconnecting even if a grid fault occurs, or managing voltage in a stable manner.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said in August it launched an "AI Data Center Research Group" and plans to draw up a dedicated grid code for AI data centres within this year. It cited concerns that sharp swings in power use by large data centres during AI computing could affect grid stability.

GW-scale AI data centre projects are currently being pushed in Ulsan and Donghae, among other places. Cho's office said applying new technical standards to these projects could require additional equipment installations and design changes, leading to higher project costs or delays in completion schedules.

Cho's side also assessed that if additional equipment to comply with the grid code takes up installation space, it could affect server capacity. For example, in a 1 GW data centre, a 1 percent drop in capacity would mean a reduction of 10 MW.

Cho's office said consultation among relevant ministries would be needed in the grid code introduction process as there have previously been inter-ministry differences over how AI data centres should procure power.

A special law on AI data centres that passed the National Assembly committee in April included provisions allowing data centres to trade electricity directly with liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants. But amid opposition from the climate ministry, the provision was dropped from the bill passed at a plenary session of the National Assembly in May. The science ministry and the climate ministry later signed a memorandum of understanding and agreed to cooperate on stable power supply through the national power grid.

Cho said he is concerned that if grid-connection standards are tightened when direct power trading is not allowed, it could increase the burden on data centre operators. "They blocked LNG direct trading and told us to receive electricity through the national grid, and now they are raising that threshold, which does not add up," Cho said.

Earlier, the science ministry and the climate ministry agreed through their memorandum of understanding to form a joint dedicated organisation to support GW-scale AI data centres. The science ministry also launched in July an "AIDC Mega Project pan-ministerial support TF" with participation from the climate ministry and others. Cho said he plans to check, during the overall audit of this year's parliamentary audit, the science ministry's plans to participate in grid code discussions through the support TF and other channels, and measures to protect existing projects under way.

"We should set standards needed for grid safety, but as a matter of principle we should exclude projects already under way from application of the grid code," Cho said. "The science ministry, as the lead ministry for AI data centres, should actively use pan-ministerial consultation channels to represent voices from investment sites," he added.