글로벌 규제 기관들은 전력망 과부하를 방지하기 위해 데이터 센터의 부풀려지거나 허위인 전력 수요 주장을 단속하고 있다.

The UK energy regulator Ofgem recently proposed a plan to impose grid connection deposits on data center operators. These deposits would be refunded only once electricity is actually consumed and forfeited if a project is abandoned midway. The proposal responds to a surge in grid connection applications, which more than tripled from 41 GW to 125 GW over just seven months, prompting authorities to crack down on speculative “place-holding” requests.

Regulatory tightening is being implemented globally. In Texas, large-scale facility applications now require a minimum review fee of $100,000, proof of actual site ownership, and confirmation that no duplicate applications exist in other regions. Meanwhile, Ontario, Canada, and Australia are filtering out over 80 percent of applications by weighting submissions based on existing site permits and technical feasibility.

Power authorities worldwide are moving to eliminate “phantom power demand.” Amid the AI boom, data center companies began applying for grid connections across multiple candidate sites simultaneously, while multiple operators frequently competed for single locations. This practice has caused speculative demand to snowball, rapidly depleting grid capacity. Compounding the issue are increasing cases of “no-shows,” where companies fail to utilize their full allocated power after construction. Authorities fear that power grids built at costs reaching trillions of won could end up with massive amounts of unused capacity.

Compass Data Center Campus in Loudoun County, Virginia, USA. A substation and transmission lines are visible in front of the campus. Large data centers require transmission and substation facilities to supply large-scale power. /Courtesy of Compass Data Center homepage

The South Korean government, through its 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, has prioritized the initial 10.8 GW—where regional sites have been finalized—out of a total 20.8 GW data center investment plan, initiating a first round of screening. The remaining 10 GW has been deferred to the next planning cycle. Professor Choi Yong-ok of Chung-Ang University, a member of the plan’s demand forecast committee, explained the phased approach: “We reflected the sites with confirmed regional selections in the first phase, while those without location information were postponed to the second phase.”

Despite these measures, experts argue that the verification process remains insufficient. They note that even with designated regions, numerous variables between site selection and construction commencement could allow speculative applications to slip through. Professor Jo Sang-min of the Korea University of Technology and Engineering stated, “Even the first-phase projects require thorough verification to ensure they translate into actual investments.” He added, “Mechanisms should be established to reassess feasibility based on project progress, such as site acquisition and grid connection procedures, as seen in other countries.”

Equinix Data Center in Silicon Valley, California, USA. Large data centers use massive amounts of power for server operations and cooling, etc. /Equinix-Wikimedia Commons

· This article has been translated by Upstage Solar AI.

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