SK Enmove teams up with Hanwha Aerospace on liquid immersion cooling

SK Enmove, the lubricant company affiliated with South Korea’s prominent SK Group, has announced a collaboration with Hanwha Aerospace, a renowned defense solution enterprise. Together, they plan to pioneer a liquid immersion cooling system targeting energy storage mechanisms for ships. This strategic partnership aims to carve a niche in the rapidly growing global marine energy storage market.

With the maritime energy storage systems (ESS) sector on the rise, the demand for power storage facilities, inclusive of specialised battery packs, has surged. These ESS units empower electric propulsion ships, allowing them to operate propulsion motors using either the power retained in batteries or sourced from generators. As per insights shared by SK Enmove, the worldwide ESS market value for ships, which was approximately USD2.1 billion in 2021, is anticipated to soar to around USD7.6 billion by 2030.

SK Enmove and Hanwha Aerospace’s collaboration revolves around formulating a liquid immersion cooling ESS specifically tailored for ships. While SK Enmove’s role entails developing fluids for the immersion cooling apparatus utilising lubricating base oil, Hanwha Aerospace’s contribution is centered around devising marine ESS frameworks grounded on lithium battery system innovations.

A pivotal aspect of this partnership is ensuring adherence to the stringent greenhouse gas emission regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a U.N. maritime safety authority. Both entities are committed to obtaining necessary certifications for their marine ESS liquid cooling technology from recognised ship associations both domestically and internationally.

During South Korea’s principal maritime technology event at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO), Kim Won-ki, head of the green growth division at SK Enmove, expressed optimism about the alliance. He emphasised their shared vision to elevate the liquid immersion cooling market and be acknowledged as an industry leader in energy efficiency.

Future Market Insights project that the global liquid immersion cooling industry, which was valued at USD330 million in 2022, could rise to USD2.1 billion by 2032. The technology has the potential to slash data centre power consumption by 30%, particularly when juxtaposed with conventional chilled air-cooling techniques.

Earlier in March 2022, to fortify its footing in the liquid-based thermal management domain, SK Enmove invested USD25 million in GRC, a U.S.-based firm specialising in liquid immersion cooling solutions for data centres.