KEPCO's Ambitious 'Renewable Energy Grid Forecasting System' Faces Effectiveness Controversy

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the power grid operation system introduced by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to compensate for the intermittency characteristic of renewable energy (the phenomenon where power generation varies depending on weather and seasons). It is pointed out that if small-scale renewable energy operators do not manage it properly, the effect will not be significant.

According to KEPCO on the 18th, the day before, they developed a system that predicts the power output from solar and wind power plants for the first time in Korea to maintain power grid stability. KEPCO expects this to contribute to solving grid overload problems that may occur when power output surges on sunny days. In particular, KEPCO judges that the short-term prediction system, which forecasts in 6-hour units, has high accuracy and is suitable for real-time renewable energy generation prediction.

Regarding this, some energy experts express concerns that regardless of the performance and level of the system developed by KEPCO, if managers do not utilize it properly, its effectiveness will be limited.

There is also doubt whether KEPCO is properly managing renewable output now, and whether more than 5,000 small-scale renewable energy operators nationwide can manage it properly. Realistically, it is considered to be less capable than managing nuclear power plants with capacities of 1.5 to 2 million KW, which are operated by professional nuclear plant operators.

Professor Lee Deok-hwan, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry and Science Communication at Sogang University, said, "The utilization of the grid prediction system developed by KEPCO will vary depending on the manager's management ability," adding, "Even if the system developed by KEPCO is distributed nationwide, if small-scale operators do not manage it properly, it is questionable whether the intermittency problem unique to renewable energy can be reduced."

The government welcomes KEPCO's development of an excellent system but believes it will be difficult to fundamentally solve the intermittency problem of renewable energy through this. It is recognized as one of the practical alternatives to overcome the intermittency of renewable energy.

An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, "The possibility of effectively controlling renewable energy grid overload will increase with KEPCO's system development," but added, "It is not expected to occupy such a significant proportion as to change the forecasted share of coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) power generation mix in the 9th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand."

KEPCO emphasizes that this system is different from existing systems that identify solar power generation capacity and output information by region and analyze the operating status and output information of each wind turbine. It enables operators to systematically predict power output and enhance grid safety beyond simple information collection.

A KEPCO Power Research Institute official stated, "By using the system to operate the power grid stably, we will be able to overcome acceptance issues arising from the recent surge in renewable energy applications," adding, "This will contribute to the government's energy transition policy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.