Professor Kim Hee-tae of the Korea University of Energy Engineering discusses the next-generation power grid.
Historically, power grids have been built on the premise of a centralized structure, with electricity produced at large power plants and distributed to consumers via transmission lines. In times when the flow of power generation, transmission, and consumption was relatively simple, large-scale power plants and a centralized grid were an efficient option.
However, as the share of renewable energy increases and structural growth in electricity demand coincide, the limitations of the existing power grid system are becoming clear. The growing number of sources of power, such as solar and wind power, whose output varies depending on weather conditions, and the proliferation of high-power consumption facilities like data centers, semiconductor factories, and electric vehicles have placed the power grid in a much more complex operating environment than before.
In response to these changes, the government's "Korea-style Next-Generation Power Grid" initiative isn't simply about expanding transmission and distribution facilities. It aims to transform the very way electricity is produced, transmitted, and consumed. The plan is to integrate scattered power sources, including renewable energy sources, energy storage systems (ESS), and demand management resources, into a single system and leverage digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize power production, storage, and consumption. The core goal of the policy is to reduce the volatility of renewable energy while simultaneously enhancing the stability and efficiency of the power grid.
As power grids become more complex, research perspectives also change. Beyond electrical engineering-centric approaches, efforts are expanding to analyze power grids using theoretical frameworks based on statistical physics, such as network science and complex systems science. Professor Kim Hee-tae of the Department of Energy Engineering at the Korea Institute of Energy Engineering (KIEEE) is an expert who has researched next-generation power grids based on this approach. Professor Kim is currently the head of the "K-GRID Talent and Startup Valley Creation" project, a government initiative centered in South Jeolla Province.
What exactly will the next-generation power grid change? We asked Professor Kim about the technology's significance, how it works, what elements must be supported during its practical implementation, and what changes citizens will experience in their daily lives.
Why do we need a next-generation power grid?
To reduce fossil fuel-based power generation and reduce carbon emissions, we must expand carbon-free power sources such as renewable energy. While renewable energy offers the advantage of producing electricity while minimizing environmental damage, it also faces the limitation of being difficult to control at will. Solar power generation fluctuates depending on sunlight intensity and wind power generation fluctuates depending on wind conditions, a phenomenon known as "intermittency." This inconsistent power generation, which can rapidly increase or decrease depending on the situation, places a strain on existing power grids. As highly variable renewable energy sources emerge as a core element of the power system, a new power grid capable of managing them reliably is needed.
What is the biggest difference between the next-generation power grid and the existing power grid?
The essence is that the power grid is evolving toward a system that combines various technologies to operate more stably. Power is moving away from a unidirectional flow structure to a bidirectional structure where power is stored and then resupplied as needed. While the "smart grid" concept of the past was about efficiently managing power flow and demand by integrating information and communication technology into the existing power grid, the next-generation power grid can be seen as a further expansion of this concept. It is a system that organically integrates technologies such as microgrids (systems that enable self-sufficiency in small areas), virtual power plants (VPPs), and energy storage systems (ESS) to promote decarbonization and the transition to a decentralized power grid.
What roles do VPP and ESS play in the next-generation power grid?
ESS, simply put, is the "auxiliary battery" of the power grid. It's similar to installing a water tank on a building's roof to store and use water. By storing excess electricity and releasing it when needed, it compensates for the volatility of renewable energy. VPP acts as a sort of conductor, integrating various resources that can generate or store electricity, such as ESS, solar power, and electric vehicles, and coordinating when and how much power to supply.
Judgment and prediction will be important in integrating and operating distributed resources.
The core technology that performs this role is AI. AI's strength lies in its ability to analyze data that is difficult to interpret individually, identify patterns, and use them for prediction. Because renewable energy generation fluctuates significantly depending on weather conditions, it's difficult to determine how much and when electricity will be produced using conventional methods alone. By training related data over the long term, we can create models that more accurately predict renewable energy generation. AI is also used to predict electricity consumption. For example, it can learn about social events, such as the surge in electricity use on the day of a major sporting event, and predict changes in demand. It can also be used to improve the overall efficiency of power grid operations, such as by preemptively detecting equipment failures or predicting maintenance and repair times.
The government announced that it will prioritize South Jeolla Province as a next-generation power grid demonstration site. Why South Jeolla Province?
South Jeolla Province is one of the regions with the highest potential for renewable energy in Korea. With its abundant solar radiation and expansive plains, it's ideal for building large-scale solar power facilities. Furthermore, the abundant wind resources along the west coast also provide excellent conditions for offshore wind power.
Beyond technology, what else is needed to implement a next-generation power grid?
The development of power technology itself has been ongoing for some time. What's changed recently is the full-scale adoption of AI. From a researcher's perspective, data is particularly crucial. This is because data is the foundation for precisely understanding power production and consumption trends. Of course, securing data isn't the only challenge. As the power system evolves, policy discussions must also advance, including whether electricity rates can be tailored to individual users and the extent to which individuals can trade surplus electricity after generating and using it. Ultimately, the stable implementation of the next-generation power grid depends on the interplay of technology, systems, markets, and data utilization environments.
What changes will citizens experience in their daily lives when the next-generation power grid is introduced?
The point is that we can continue to use electricity without inconvenience, just like we do now. In fact, this isn't a given. Korea boasts a very stable power supply, which means we invest significant resources in managing it. The environment will change dramatically in the future. Electricity-intensive industries like semiconductors and data centers will continue to grow, and with everyday life shifting from gas stoves to induction stoves and cars to electric vehicles, electricity consumption will inevitably increase significantly. The next-generation power grid aims to minimize large-scale power outages and power supply instability, ensuring that citizens experience no inconvenience despite these changes. Maintaining the current usage environment while utilizing clean energy is itself a significant achievement. Furthermore, the burden of electricity bills can be reduced through so-called "solar pensions" and "V2G" (Vehicle to Grid), which generate additional revenue by introducing renewable energy sources and providing power to electric vehicles and the grid.
You mentioned V2G. How can electric vehicles reduce electricity bills?
While this system hasn't been fully implemented in Korea yet, it's conceptually feasible. From the perspective of the power grid, the more resources available to store electricity and then release it when needed, the easier it is to operate. In this sense, electric vehicles can act as "mobile auxiliary batteries." During periods of high demand, some of the stored electricity in the vehicle is supplied to the grid, and during periods of high solar power generation, the vehicle is recharged. In return for this contribution to grid operation, electric vehicle users receive discounts or compensation.
Once the next-generation power grid is established, we can also look forward to a new industrial ecosystem.
The nature of the power industry is somewhat different from that of the typical IT service industry. Unlike the model of rapid startups based on ideas alone, the power sector requires practical technology and equipment to support them. I believe that startup opportunities in the power industry arise when technological development and policy support are combined. Another important change is that next-generation power grids can increase renewable energy generation and reduce the burden of transmission network expansion. If data centers are relocated or newly built in areas rich in renewable energy, AI-based industries can form around those areas. A virtuous cycle of job creation and an influx of young people can also be expected, revitalizing the local economy. I believe Korea's next-generation power grid is not simply about efficient electricity use; it's a comprehensive plan that aims to simultaneously drive industrial growth and regional revitalization.
What are the key perspectives you are focusing on in next-generation power grid research?
Rather than focusing on the cross-section of the power grid as discussed in electrical engineering, we approach the entire power system as a single physical entity. As the power grid becomes increasingly complex, there are increasingly more aspects that are difficult to explain using conventional methods. I want to contribute to understanding the system from a new perspective and finding ways to operate it more healthily and reliably.