SK Inno Collaboration Social Venture 'Somuna' Opens First Store at SK Energy Incheon Nateuk House

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Somuna, an eco-friendly social venture collaborating with SK Innovation, opened a store on the 13th at SK Energy's NaeTruck House in Incheon.

SK Energy, the petroleum business subsidiary of SK Innovation, operates NaeTruck Houses?one-stop truck rest areas offering everything from rest to refueling for truck drivers?at 21 major ports and logistics hubs nationwide, including Busan, Gwangyang, Incheon, and Pyeongtaek.

With this entry into the Incheon NaeTruck House, Somuna has established a foothold to target the metropolitan area market. SK Energy’s NaeTruck House, where numerous freight brokerage companies and truck drivers gather, provides the optimal infrastructure for Somuna’s future growth. Going forward, Somuna plans to explore opportunities to expand its nationwide network in collaboration with NaeTruck House.

Additionally, by leveraging SK Energy’s nationwide infrastructure to support the growth of eco-friendly social ventures, this case is regarded as a strengthened example of ESG (Environmental, Social Responsibility, Governance) management promoted by the SK Innovation group.

Somuna is a social venture that developed a truck electrical system for refrigeration and freezing without engine idling. It is one of four companies selected in SK Innovation’s 'SV2 Impact Partnering Model Season 2' held this year.

The engine-off refrigeration and freezing truck electrical system developed by Somuna utilizes surplus electricity generated while the vehicle is in motion, enabling the use of power-intensive electrical devices such as refrigeration and freezing equipment even when the engine is off. To achieve this, Somuna developed a ‘Dual Hybrid Battery’ combining two lithium batteries. This battery has a longer lifespan and supports rapid charging compared to conventional batteries, minimizing power loss and allowing long-term use for devices requiring high voltage.

Applying Somuna’s system results in an economic effect of saving approximately 1.5 million KRW annually in fuel costs compared to conventional refrigerated and frozen trucks. Furthermore, the reduction in unavoidable engine idling to maintain refrigeration and freezing temperatures leads to an annual reduction of about 3 tons of carbon emissions and fine dust per truck, demonstrating excellent environmental value.

Song Jong-won, CEO of Somuna, said, "It is highly meaningful that Somuna’s first store has opened at SK Energy’s Incheon NaeTruck House, with whom we collaborate." He added, "Starting with this first store, we plan to expand our network nationwide and strive to grow into an eco-friendly cold chain business model."

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