DataBean, Korea South-East Power to develop seawater-cooled AI edge data centers
The agreement covers a seawater-based immersion cooling system and AI-driven DCIM, with staged development starting from DataBean's SmartBox solution.
DataBean signed an agreement with Korea South-East Power on October 22, 2026, to jointly develop an immersion cooling system for edge data centers that uses seawater from power plant cooling facilities, along with AI-based data center infrastructure management (DCIM), according to aitimes.com.
The system is designed to use seawater as a secondary coolant instead of air cooling, aiming to improve energy efficiency and operational stability for high-heat AI data centers. Development will proceed in stages based on DataBean's SmartBox immersion cooling solution: upgrading the domestic immersion cooling system, developing a heat exchange module linked to power plant seawater cooling equipment, and building AI-based DCIM and digital twin software.
The planned system uses a two-loop isolation structure and a closed-loop heat exchanger so that seawater is physically separated from data center equipment. DataBean plans to target local financial institutions, electronic financial businesses, public institutions and industrial complexes as customers for a power-plant-linked AI edge data center business model.
DataBean CEO Kim Su-yong described the cooperation as a demonstration business model that converts power plant infrastructure into AI data center infrastructure.
DataBean was founded in 2016 as an immersion cooling specialist. Last year, the company entered the Irish AI data center market with its SmartBox immersion cooling system.
Quick answers
What did DataBean and Korea South-East Power agree to develop?
They agreed to jointly develop an immersion cooling system for edge data centers that uses seawater from power plant cooling facilities, along with AI-based data center infrastructure management (DCIM).
When was the agreement signed?
The agreement was signed on October 22, 2026.
What is the development based on?
Development will proceed in stages based on DataBean's SmartBox immersion cooling solution, including an upgraded domestic system, a heat exchange module linked to power plant seawater cooling equipment, and AI-based DCIM and digital twin software.