Data center electricity demand is about to transform the investment landscape. Korean power infrastructure companies are quietly leading the charge.
The International Energy Agency's 2025 "Energy and AI" report projects global data center power consumption will reach 945 TWh by 2030, up from 415 TWh in 2024. That's a 2.3x increase in just six years, roughly equivalent to Japan's entire annual electricity consumption being added solely to data centers.
While everyone chased AI semiconductor stocks (Nvidia, Samsung), a niche ETF tracking Korean power infrastructure companies quietly delivered +120.45% returns since its September 2025 launch. The RISE AI Power Infrastructure ETF (ticker: 0101N0, KB Asset Management) tracks the KRX-Akros AI Power Infrastructure Index.
Why it makes structural sense:
Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle together plan to invest up to $690 billion in data centers in 2026 — a 36% increase year-over-year. Roughly 75% goes directly to AI infrastructure: transformers, switchgear, cables, and cooling systems. US and European power grids cannot self-supply this demand, creating import dependency that Korean electrical equipment makers are filling.
Three Korean companies hold combined order backlogs of ₩16.6 trillion (~$12B):
- HD Hyundai Electric (market cap ₩35.3T): $7.2B order backlog
- Hyosung Heavy Industries: Q1 2026 operating profit +48.8% YoY, record 12.8% margin
- LS Electric: +17.02% single-day gain post-stock split, ₩2.8T order backlog
Three ETFs to know:
- RISE AI Power Infrastructure (0101N0) — 0.30% fee, +120.45% since launch
- KODEX AI Power Core Equipment (487240) — 0.20% fee (lowest cost)
- TIGER Global AI Power Infrastructure Active (491010) — global exposure, 0.49% fee
This is a 2-3 year structural play, not a short-term trade. The key risk to watch: any sharp pullback in hyperscaler CAPEX guidance.
For the full analysis in Korean, visit Snakestock.
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