KEPCO aims to achieve success in smart energy city with least effect on climate

“Based on the stored data, we develop algorithm to help people and our target audience in utilizing their energy more efficient,” opined Kwon, Gyu-huyn, Senior Manager (International Cooperation Team SMEs & Startups Department), KEPCO.

The 24^th World Energy Congress took place in Abu Dhabi between September 9 and 12, 2019 attracted the global energy thinkers or thought leaders at one podium. South Korea’s largest electric utility, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) was present at the event to exhibit its latest innovation on ‘Smart Energy City Integrated Platform’. The 121-years-old KEPCO listed itself on the New York Stock Exchange in 1994 and also hosted the World Energy Congress in Daegu in 2013. Kwon, Gyu-huyn, Senior Manager (International Cooperation Team SMEs & Startups Department), KEPCO shared the company’s vision and progress on its energy-efficient system in an exclusive short conversation with Devdiscourse on the sidelines of 24^th World Energy Congress.

KEPCO is responsible for 93 percent of Korea’s electricity generation and the national government owns a 51.11 percent of the company. In an exclusive interaction with Devdiscourse at the sidelines of 24^th World Energy Congress, Kwon, Gyu-huyn said that due to KEPCO’s current focus on digital transformation and energy transition, the company is leading the energy-efficient system and giving its endeavors on a vital project ‘smart air city’ (or smart energy city).

KEPCO has been serving as the reliable supplier of top-quality electric power and creating ‘history of light’ since its inception during the end of 19^th century in South Korea. The South Korean-government-owned company is specialized in storing a huge amount of data every year. Based on the stored data, it develops the algorithm to help people and its target audience in utilizing their energy more efficiently. “Our final goal is to create a smart air city that will have all kinds of systems including solar farm and wind farm. The main objective is to reduce our energy consumption,” Kwon, Gyu-huyn opined.

As far as KEPCO’s objective of making a smart energy city is concerned, it requires, according to Gyu-huyn, a control centre to manage all kind of energy streams. Consequently, the smart energy system will be in tune with renewable sources of energy (including power plants). KEPCO’s project of making a future city will have very less effect on climate change. “We believe that if we are able to use energy more efficiently, we will contribute to reducing carbon emission and thereby conserve the environment,” added.

KEPCO hosted the 2019 Intelligent Digital Power Plant Development Conference at the KEPCO Research Institute in Daejeon between September 5 and 6. The company first made its overseas foray in 1993 and currently it operates in 13 countries around the world. The giant South Korean company acquired the Bylong Coal Mine in Australia from Anglo American PLC in 2010 with an objective to raise its fuel self-sufficiency rate to 60 percent by 2020. A decade back, it had already announced Korea’s National Smart Grid Roadmap and is a part of Jeju Smart Grid Demonstration Project. “Although we have already taken our business beyond South Korea, we are constantly trying to expand our business in other countries. Our specialized teams are giving their efforts to seek more options to expand our business and reach in other countries,” Gyu-huyn said to Devdiscourse.