Hanwha's AI energy management system named to Fast Company's 2026 tech list
In short
Fast Company named Energy Fluo, an AI-based energy management system developed by TransGrid Energy, a Hanwha FutureProof subsidiary, in the Applied AI category of its 2026 Next Big Things in Tech list. The company says the system analyses power use across data center equipment, storage and cooling in real time and can cut power operating costs by up to 25%. TransGrid Energy CEO Park Young-chun said fragmented management of increasingly complex data center grids is no longer workable.
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Fast Company named Energy Fluo, an AI-based energy management system, in the Applied AI category of its 2026 Next Big Things in Tech list, according to Hanwha and the four Korean outlets that reported the selection. The system was developed by TransGrid Energy, a subsidiary of Hanwha FutureProof, which develops and operates power equipment and energy storage systems for large power-consuming facilities such as data centers in the United States. Fast Company announced the selections on October 6 local time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the reports, Energy Fluo analyses power conditions in real time across power equipment, energy storage systems, cooling devices and IT systems, and ties generation, storage and consumption into a single control system so operators can adjust energy use across a site. Hanwha says the system can cut power operating costs, with Yonhap citing up to 25% and Maeil Business, ZDNet Korea and Asia Economy citing a range of 5–25% depending on site conditions. The reports also said the AI proposes optimisation measures while the final authority to control key equipment stays with the operator. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Fast Company said the system can monitor data centers, analyse the causes of problems and decide on responses to optimise power consumption, using machine learning and large language models, according to the reports. Maeil Business, ZDNet Korea and Asia Economy said the magazine also cited Prime Group's adoption of the technology for its nationwide edge data center buildout in the United States. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The outlets reported that Energy Fluo received a UL certification for AI-based product safety in March, with Yonhap naming the standard “UL315” and ZDNet Korea and Asia Economy naming it “UL 3115”; Asia Economy said the technology was among the early AI-based products to receive it. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Park Young-chun, CEO of TransGrid Energy, said the power grid of highly complex data centers can no longer be handled through fragmented, individual management. He said Energy Fluo helps direct more power to data center equipment within a limited cap and allows integrated control of an entire facility, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Fast Company selects next-generation technologies each year across 31 fields, judging innovation and future potential, the reports said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The selection puts a Korean group's US-based energy infrastructure subsidiary on a US innovation list, in coverage framed around data center electricity use. The documents present the system's value mainly in terms of data center power cost and grid complexity, without offering independent data on its performance.
Key facts
- Fast Company named Energy Fluo, developed by TransGrid Energy, a Hanwha FutureProof subsidiary, in the Applied AI category of its 2026 Next Big Things in Tech list. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Fast Company announced the selection on October 6 local time, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Energy Fluo analyses power conditions across power equipment, energy storage systems, cooling devices and IT systems in real time to help operators optimise energy use. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yonhap said the system provides up to a 25% reduction in power operating costs, while Maeil Business, ZDNet Korea and Asia Economy cited a 5–25% range. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to the reports, the AI proposes optimisation measures while final control is subject to operator approval. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Maeil Business, ZDNet Korea and Asia Economy reported that US-based Prime Group adopted the technology for its nationwide edge data center buildout. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Park Young-chun, CEO of TransGrid Energy, said data center power grids have become too complex to be handled through fragmented, individual management. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Fast Company named Energy Fluo, an AI-based energy management system from Hanwha FutureProof subsidiary TransGrid Energy, in the Applied AI category of its 2026 Next Big Things in Tech list. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Fast Company announced the selections on October 6 local time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The system analyses power use across power equipment, energy storage, cooling and IT systems in real time and supports integrated control of production, storage and consumption. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Hanwha states the system can reduce power operating costs, with Yonhap citing up to 25% and three other outlets citing a 5–25% range. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Fast Company selects next-generation technologies each year across 31 categories. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Park Young-chun is the CEO of TransGrid Energy and said the system helps direct more power to data center equipment within a limited cap and manage facilities in an integrated way. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The name of the AI product safety certification the system received in March. Yonhap calls it “UL315”, while ZDNet Korea and Asia Economy call it “UL 3115”.
- The precise scale of the claimed power operating cost savings. Yonhap states up to 25%, while Maeil Business, ZDNet Korea and Asia Economy give a 5–25% range depending on site conditions.
- Whether the savings and performance figures come from independent testing. The documents attribute the figures to Hanwha or its subsidiary rather than to outside measurement.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Fast Company announces the selections for its 2026 Next Big Things in Tech list, including Energy Fluo in the Applied AI category (US local time; exact time not stated). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Energy Fluo receives a UL certification for AI product safety, according to the company. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report on the selection. [ 1 ]
- Maeil Business publishes its report, citing the 5–25% cost saving range and the Prime Group case. [ 2 ]
- ZDNet Korea publishes its report on the system's technical design. [ 3 ]
- Asia Economy publishes its report on the selection. [ 4 ]