LG Electronics, SK Enmove Team Up on Cooling Tech

As of September 23, 2026, LG Electronics and SK Enmove have agreed to jointly develop next-generation refrigerants, refrigeration oils, and immersion cooling technology. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at boosting thermal-management competitiveness across industries, including AI data centers. The partnership pairs materials science with cooling-system engineering.

GWP below 150Global warming potential target for the jointly developed refrigerant

Key points

LG Electronics and SK Enmove signed an MOU to co-develop refrigerants, refrigeration oils, and immersion cooling technology.
Executives from both companies attended the signing ceremony at SK's Seorin Building on September 21.
The companies are targeting a new refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) under 150 and zero PFAS (perfluorinated compounds).
They're also exploring expanding immersion cooling beyond data centers to energy storage systems (ESS) and EV components.

LG Electronics and SK Enmove have agreed to jointly develop next-generation cooling materials. At the heart of the MOU is a plan to co-create refrigerants, refrigeration oils, and immersion cooling technology together. The deal was signed at SK's Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on September 21, with LG Electronics President Lee Jae-sung — who oversees the company's energy solutions business — and SK Enmove CEO Kim Won-ki among those in attendance.

The starting point for the collaboration is a new refrigerant built to meet tightening environmental rules. As greenhouse gas emissions standards get stricter across Europe and North America, there's growing demand for a refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) under 150 and no PFAS (perfluorinated compounds) at all. The plan splits the work: SK Enmove develops candidate substances, and LG Electronics tests them in actual HVAC products. The two are also co-developing a matching refrigeration oil — a lubricant-like material that reduces wear on components like compressors — optimized for the new refrigerant to boost both efficiency and durability.

The other big focus area is immersion cooling: submerging heat-generating equipment like servers directly in an insulating cooling fluid. It's far more efficient than conventional air cooling, which is why it's gaining traction as an alternative for power-hungry AI data centers. The two companies have previously worked with a US-based cooling specialist to test the technology's feasibility and commercial potential. Building on that, they plan to explore expanding its use beyond data centers to other heat-heavy power equipment, including energy storage systems (ESS) and EV components.

Executives from both sides expect the partnership to give them an edge in the increasingly competitive thermal-management race. SK Enmove said it wants to lean on the materials expertise it's built up in the lubricants business to speed up commercialization, while LG Electronics said it plans to keep pairing its HVAC and cooling technology with SK Enmove's materials know-how to chase new market opportunities.

In Korea right nowIn Korea, taming the heat generated by AI chips has become a major industry talking point. As chip performance climbs, so does the heat output — driving up both data center operating costs and power consumption. Against that backdrop, this tie-up between a consumer electronics giant and a refining-linked materials company reads as another sign of how cross-industry collaboration is accelerating.

FAQ

What exactly is immersion cooling?

It's a method of submerging heat-generating equipment like servers directly into a non-conductive cooling liquid to draw heat away, which is more efficient than traditional air cooling — a big reason it's getting attention for AI data centers.

Does this partnership affect everyday consumers?

The immediate targets are data centers and industrial equipment, but the refrigerants and refrigeration oils being developed could eventually be used in home HVAC systems too, which could improve consumer product efficiency down the line.

Have the two companies worked together before?

Yes — LG Electronics and SK Enmove previously partnered with a US immersion cooling specialist to validate immersion cooling solutions for data centers. This new MOU expands that collaboration into materials development.