KCCI-Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Approve 'Solar Power Trading Platform' Sandbox

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoonju Hwang] H Energy's developed 'Small-scale Solar Power Trading Platform' has received a 'Regulatory Sandbox Exemption.' Apartment residents can join a cooperative and either directly use the solar power generated on the rooftop or sell it through the platform. Households with typically high electricity consumption can purchase solar energy via the platform to save on electricity bills. Until now, self-production was only possible for detached houses, but with the platform, residents of apartments and multi-family houses can also participate.

Ham Ilhan, CEO of H Energy, stated, "Apartment residents can now directly consume the electricity they generate through shared rooftops," adding, "The purchase price of solar energy is about 150 KRW per kWh, so households in the second tier of progressive rates (187.9 KRW/kWh) can reduce their electricity bills by buying power from the platform." Under current law, electricity trading is only possible through Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), and simultaneous production and sale of electricity are prohibited.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy approved the regulatory sandbox exemption subject to negotiations on power grid usage fees with KEPCO. H Energy will conduct a two-year market test targeting members of the 'Gyeongbuk Our Home RE100 Cooperative' and 'Ulsan Smart Energy Cooperative' as well as newly established cooperatives in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Ulsan Metropolitan City.

They will also introduce a mobile energy storage system (ESS) mounted on trucks, created by assembling electric vehicle battery packs. The mobile ESS charges batteries nearby from solar power or EV chargers and then moves to locations requiring external power supply or disaster areas to provide electricity. They plan to target the North American market, including Texas, which experienced unprecedented blackouts due to cold waves caused by climate change.

IonEarth plans to demonstrate 10 trucks equipped with mobile ESS over two years in disaster areas around the Seoul metropolitan area, 5G mobile base stations, and various events. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy intends to actively utilize the demonstration results to promptly establish additional standards reflecting mobile characteristics alongside existing fixed-type standards.

SK Energy's 'High Penetration Recycled Asphalt Concrete Production' also received temporary approval. To maintain the performance of recycled asphalt concrete, the use of recycled additives (performance restorers) was mandatory. However, SK Energy's developed 'High Penetration Asphalt' contains the function of recycled additives, so separate addition is unnecessary.

The 'Eco-friendly Asphalt Delamination Prevention Agent' (NaviSeal) also received production approval. SP Nature developed a delamination prevention agent that can prevent 'road potholes' (delamination phenomenon where asphalt peels off) using advanced fine particle manufacturing technology. However, under current law, only quicklime and liquid delamination prevention agents are specified as delamination prevention agents, making it unclear whether other products can be used as such.

Automatic vending machines for instant foods such as salads, lunch boxes, and meal kits for single-person households in urban areas will also be installed. 'Instant Food Vending Machines' created by GrandmaChan sell instant foods produced in shared kitchens and traditional markets, installed in shared housing and shared offices to allow the general public to purchase easily 24/7. Current law limits distribution and sales via vending machines to food manufacturing and processing businesses with factory facilities, but with the regulatory sandbox exemption, 20 vending machines will be installed in 10 areas of Seoul over the next two years.

'Shared Hair Salons' (three companies including NG Company) also received additional approval. A total of 15 businesses received sandbox approval in June, August, and December. The review committee applied 'Fast-Track' review for similar or identical projects and passed the resolution.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Sandbox Review Committee approved six other projects besides the above eight, including ▲ mixed oil accident prevention services ▲ establishment and operation of hydrogen charging stations in urban areas.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Sandbox Support Center is the first private sandbox organization in Korea. It supports all industrial sectors including ICT convergence, industrial convergence, and financial innovation sandboxes. Companies unable to commercialize due to lack of laws or outdated regulations (Loophole) can receive free consulting at the KCCI Sandbox (Sandbox.korcham.net).

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