A Glance at Smart Grid Advancements in Korea, Abroad

Global Electric Power Tech 2011 draws 280 exhibitors from 25 countries

Dignitaries, including Rep. Kim Young-hwan, chairman of the National Assembly Knowledge Economy Committee, and Kim Jung-gwan, second vice minister of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, attend a tape-cutting ceremony to open the Global Electric Power Tech 2011.

The VIPs, including Rep. Kim Young-hwan, chairman of the National Assembly Knowledge Economy Committee, and Kim Jung-gwan, second vice minister of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, and KOTRA President Cho Hwan-eik, take a look at the items on display at the Global Electric Power Tech 2011.

Global Electric Power Tech 2011 that took place at COEX in Samsungseong-dong, Seoul, on May 18-20 attracted 280 exhibitors from 25 countries, including host Korea.
The Korea Electric Engineers Association (KEEA) and KOTRA jointly organized the exhibition, the ninth one, designed to invigorate the domestic electric industry and provide support for making the industry an exporting industry.
The 250 exhibitors set up 450 booths and displayed advanced electricity and smart grid equipment, power generation and nuclear power plant equipment and new and renewable energy equipment. The participating exhibitors included such power and nuclear power equipment makers as SNC Labalin, BC Hydro, AECL, and AECON as well as Kenya's state-run power company KenGen, Office Natinale Eletricite, Morocco's state-run power authority, and VostokEnergo, a state-run power authority in the Russian Far East.
The Korean power industry set up several booths, including the Korean Power Industry Pavilion, operated by Korea Electric Power Corp. and power SME partners, the Export Negotiation Pavilion and the Gyeonggi Province Green Energy Pavilion, to display a wide range of Korean made electric convergence items, including smart grid products.
An exporting consultation and procurement session also took place on the sidelines of Global Electric Power Tech 2011 with the invited representatives from 120 prominent buyers, including procurement companies of 35 countries, engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) companies in attendance.
Such similar sessions of the past two years resulted in landing a total of 22 orders worth a combined $480 million to export electric equipment and components. They included a $1.3 billion deal to build two thermal power plants to KenGen, the 1,200MW Rabigh Independent Power Producer Project by a consortium of KEPCO and ACWA Power of Saudi Arabia and a $150,000 contract between Samwha Electric Co a and CROMPON of India.
A KEEA official said KEEA plans to do its utmost in providing support in creating smart grid business models embracing convergence products following the hosting of the Global Electric Power Tech 2011.
Kim Jung-gwan, 2nd vice minister of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, said the displaying of equipment and apparatus for smart grid is an occasion to publicize the general public how smart grid has impact on daily lives. Global Electric Power Tech 2011 also coincided with seminars, a training program and other side events. Subramanya Bettadapura, director of Frost & Sullivan, spoke about "Smart Grid: Global User Market Analysis and Business Strategy" at the World Smart Grid Seminar that took place at the COEX on May 18. nw

Photo on Courtesy of the MKE