Smart Grid Projections for Asia

One of the obvious ways in which ICT can contribute to green growth is through the installation of a smart grid.   A new estimate suggests that smart grid investment in Asia is expected to reach $171.3 billion by 2017, up from $11.9 billion this year.  As NewNet notes, Korea is seeking to leverage its technology leadership in the IT and communications space to form an advanced smart grid infrastructure within the country, as well as an opportunity to export smart grid technologies around the world..

iPhone App is a Step Toward Korea's Smart Grid

I've commented in earlier posts on Korea's smart-grid pilot project in Jeju.  Now, in an interesting related development, the Korea Power Exchange has released an app for the iPhone.  Reportedly, this makes Korea the first country in the world (certainly it is one of the first) to put real-time data on electric power supply and consumption on the mobile internet.  The English application is quite well done and very informative.  I assume the Korean side of the service is, if anything, even more informative.   In addition to tracking current electricity supply and demand levels, the service has historical data, future projections, information on electricity pricing and more.  It has a very nice explanation of the future changes coming to the market for electric power here and around the world with the advent of the smart-grid era.

Korea Poised to be a Leader in Smart Grid Technology

The industry press is noting a new report by Pike Research on Korea's smart grid plans.  These were the subject of earlier posts last year.  The new report suggests that Korea's efforts will result in investments totalling $15.8 billion within South Korea itself between 2009 and 2016.  Noting that Korean companies have been at the forefront of innovation in ICT, an industry expert suggests they are now posed to take a significant leadership role in the smart grid market, both within Korea and on a global level.  This will be one of the interesting areas of industry convergence to watch, since a smart grid essentially involves convergence of ICT with the electric power industry and also because smart grids are considered a green technology.

Korea's "Smart Grid" Plans

South Korea plans to be the first country in the world to convert its electricity network into so-called "smart grids," as noted by a story in The Korea Times.  Korea plans to implement its high-tech nationwide electricity grid by 2030, at a projected cost of $23.3 billion.  The new grid should help the country reduce power consumption by 3 percent and cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 150 million tons.

A smart grid links electricity suppliers with consumers in an IP-based network.  Many countries are striving toward the goal of having smart grid technology.   Stakeholders in the United States have identified the following performance characteristics of smart grid technology.

• Self healing from power disturbance events.


• Enabling active participation by consumers in demand response.


• Operating resiliently against physical and cyber attack.


• Providing power quality for 21st century needs.


• Accommodating all generation and storage options.


• Enabling new products, services and markets.


• Optimizing assets and operating efficiently.

A simple example of how the smart grid will work is that it will allow home or apartment owners to schedule their washing machines or other appliances to run when electricity rates are lowest.  This is the same principle as the "night-rate electricity boilers" that are so popular for ondol heating systems and hot water in Korea.  The smart-grid will be accessible from both mobile and fixed broadband internet, so people could be able to make adjustments to their home appliances via a mobile handset.

Residents of Jeju Island will get the first glimpse of the possibilities offered by smart grids.  KEPCO and 167 other companies are collaborating to build the nation's first smart-grid test bed

Korea to Save Power by Installing Smart Grid by 2030

An article in the Korea Times provides some interesting detail on South Korea's plans to install a smart grid by the year 2030.  The high tech, nationwide electricity grid is expected to create a market worth about $54.5 billion, create 500,000 new jobs annually, and to reduce the country's power consumption by 3 percent.  According to a ministry official, the energy saved will be the equivalent to having seven extra 1,000 megawatt nuclear power generators.  The internet protocol (IP) based electricity network will give consumers more choice, allowing them to pay different rates for electricity used on computers an heating, or different rates for power generated from green technology such as wind or solar power generators.  KEPCO is planning the country's first smart grid test bed on the island of Jeju.