Naju City Partners with 9 Companies to Establish Energy Valley MG

Published 10 May.2023 15:51(KST)

Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced on the 10th that on the 9th, it signed a “Business Agreement for the Establishment of an Energy Valley Microgrid” at the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) headquarters with KEPCO, Korea Energy Engineering University, and nine specialized companies in the MG field.

The nine companies participating in the agreement are Hyundai Engineering, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Kia Motors, Cohigen, Vincen, 42DOT, Herit, and Synergy.

Naju City signed a business agreement to establish an energy valley microgrid. <br>[Photo by Naju City]

Naju City signed a business agreement to establish an energy valley microgrid.
[Photo by Naju City]

Specialized companies in various fields such as hydrogen, regional DR (Demand Response), solar power, wind power, eco-friendly ships, and unmanned shuttles, along with Naju City, KEPCO, and KENTEC, will join forces to build an open-type demonstration complex based on cooperation among Energy Valley MG related organizations.

A microgrid (Micro-Grid, abbreviated as MG) is a small-scale smart grid system that can self-supply electricity within a small area.

It refers to a next-generation power system that is a small-scale independent power grid where renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power and energy storage systems (ESS) are converged and integrated with the existing power grid.

In particular, with the recent passage of the “Distributed Energy Special Act” through the Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee, it is gaining attention as a future-oriented new technology preparing for the distributed energy era, where energy produced locally is consumed locally.

Through the agreement, these institutions and companies plan to strengthen cooperation in each field, including “development of eco-friendly power sources such as solar, wind, hydrogen, and small nuclear power,” “energy efficiency using power data (AMI, system information),” “establishment of regulation-free zones using special systems (regulatory sandbox, regulatory free zones, etc.),” and “creation of an open-type new technology demonstration complex leading future new businesses.”

The city, KEPCO, and Hyundai Engineering, which possesses top-level technology in the environment and energy fields, will build an “infrastructure for clean hydrogen production and supply using waste plastic.”

Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and Herit will jointly promote a pilot project for regional DR services to improve energy efficiency in apartment complexes.

This service’s core is to recommend reducing electricity usage during specific times of high power consumption and provide incentives if individual households comply.

Cohigen, which is promoting the construction of a liquefied hydrogen charging station at the Naju City Cheongdong cargo truck public garage, and Vincen, which possesses eco-friendly marine and mobility technologies, will participate in shipbuilding and the operation of hydrogen ships cruising the Yeongsan River.

42DOT, responsible for software development for Hyundai and Kia Motors, plans to start developing an integrated operation system for wireless charging autonomous electric shuttle bus operation from the Innovation City to Naju City Hall.

In particular, these companies have attracted attention by agreeing to cooperate in the “Yeongsan River Integrated River Development Project,” a key project of Naju City’s 8th mayoral term, by supplying eco-friendly power (wind power generation), operating eco-friendly ships, and running autonomous electric shuttle buses.

The city expects that this agreement, combined with the achievements of the Energy Valley development promoted since 2014, will lay the foundation for securing a specialized distributed energy area and building an eco-friendly low-carbon demonstration complex in preparation for the global energy transition era.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “Through this agreement, we expect not only the development of domestic MG convergence new businesses but also that Naju will lead the global new energy industry and play a significant role in responding to global climate change, carbon neutrality, and RE100,” adding, “We will spare no administrative and financial support to ensure the smooth progress of the project.”