KEPCO announced on Nov. 18 that it is pushing for 'KEPCO Open MG Project' to develop the "future-oriented micro grid (MG)". KEPCO Open MG refers to an open-type energy community that combines the existing MG with digital technologies such as energy solutions and blockchain.
Previously, MGs had some difficulties in providing stable power as they chiefly consist of small PVs (PhotoVoltaics), wind turbines (WTs), and energy storage system (ESS).
The KEPCO Open MG that is being developed this time has an additional fuel cell as a power source, so it can be self-sufficient in energy only with new regeneration, a KEPCO official said.
It can significantly increase energy self-reliance and efficiency than the existing MG. It is environmentally friendly because it does not emit greenhouse gases.
In particular, it is expected to contribute greatly to the formation of new business ecosystems and job creation by contributing to the upcoming energy infrastructure of the hydrogen economy, he added.
KEPCO plans to make the KEPCO Open MG more full-scale and form the first MW-scale micro grid in Korea. Noting that the three trends that drive the future of the energy industry are de-carbonnization, decentralization, and digitalization, KEPCO President Kim Jong-gap said, " Through this project, KEPCO will speed up its new renewable generation and energy efficiency projects and take a step forward as an energy platform provider that will lead energy conversion and digital transformation."