Kepco to showcase smart grid technology in RP

MANILA, Philippines - Kepco Philippines Corp., the local unit of state-owned Korea Electric and Power  Corp.,  will introduce the smart grid technology in the Philippines. The Korean power firm will specifically provide local energy players a glimpse of how the smart grid works as it showcases the technology at the PowerTrends 2009 Exhibit to be held from Sept. 9 to 11

at the World Trade Center.

At the G8 Summit’s Major Economies Forum (MEF) on Energy and Climate held in L’Aquila, Italy last July, South Korea was chosen to spearhead the research, development and commercialization of smart grid technology. This technology has been named as

one of seven breakthroughs that may help change the world. Smart grid is a revolutionary technology that incorporates information technology (IT) into an existing power network,

making two-way information exchange between suppliers and consumers possible.

With this setup, energy usage is monitored more efficiently. Moreover, it can predict  mechanical and technical problems even before they occur, thus preventing large-scale power outages.  This grid system, more importantly, allows renewable energy sources to be integrated into the existing network, therefore contributing to carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction. Kepco, the sole provider of electricity in Korea, will pilot a smart  grid project city in Korea’s Jeju Island by 2011. The consumer-side smart grid is targeted

to be completed in 2020, and is expected to become nationwide by 2030. This technology is part of South Korea’s $103-billion initiative to increase its generation of green  technology to 11 percent in the next two decades, from the current 2.4 percent. Korea will prepare a detailed map of its smart grid, and a plan on how to develop the technology, which will then be submitted to the MEF as it meets again on Nov. 15, 2009. In line with Kepco’s green energy leadership, Kepco Philippines ventures into developing renewable energy projects. Kepco Philippines runs the 1,500-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant.