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MOEA minister says grid can support 6 AI data centres
Ministry of Economic Affairs Minister JW Kuo says he believes the island's electricity grid will be able to support at least six artificial intelligence data centres by the end of next year. This, as the government assesses the growing electricity requirements of the AI industry.
Kuo told lawmakers that Taiwan's AI industry doesn't currently consume a significant amount of electricity, but as the industry develops, its power usage could exceed initial growth estimates. He also admitted that electricity supplies could become tighter if six AI data centres are built by the end of 2025.
However, the economics minister went on to say that priority will be given to solar power generation as it's considered to be the quickest solution to any possible power shortages.
The statements come after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang earlier this week announced plans to build a second supercomputer in Taiwan. A final report on its finds is expected to be released by mid-July.
In related news, Kuo says he fully supports foreign investment in Taiwan. Asked about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's plan of setting up a second research and development center in Taiwan today, Kuo says he's yet to receive any concrete information, but he strongly welcomes it.
The ministry has already approved an Nvidia's innovation research centre in Taipei's Neihu District, and the project runs from 2022 to 2027 with a total investment of NT$24.3 billion, of which the Ministry would inject NT$6.7 billion. Nvidia will shoulder the rest of the budget.
Kuo says today that his ministry would not recommend any location for Nvidia's second centre, saying that the company is expected to make its own choice.
