Kepco hosts a power industry parley on Jeju

Cho Hwan-eik, Kepco CEO, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry that kicked off yesterday in Jeju. Provided by the company

Asia needs to take the lead in renewable energy technologies to respond to climate change and rising energy demands, said Korea Electric Power Corporation CEO Cho Hwan-eik.

Cho also emphasized that Korea will play a crucial role in promoting up-to-date renewable energy and energy management technologies such as energy storage systems (ESS).

“[Technology’s development is significant] at a time when there has been much transformation in the power sector, such as changes to the energy map and energy mix following the emergence of shale gas, uncertainties regarding the future of nuclear energy, climate change impact and other factors,” Cho said at the four-day Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (Cepsi), which kicked off yesterday on Jeju Island.

The event is the largest meeting of energy sector executives in Asia.

The conference celebrated its 20th anniversary this year and this is the first time it is being held in Korea. It is hosted by the state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) and the Association of the Electricity Supply Industry of East Asia and the Western Pacific.

About 2,000 CEOs, directors and engineers from 35 Asia-Pacific power companies will discuss the responsibilities of power generators in a future era of renewable energy, smart grids and climate change.

Kepco said a wider variety of attendants are participating in this conference, ranging from technology-savvy countries to developing nations.

The CEOs of China’s five largest power generators are attending the conference, as well as new members of the association, Cambodia and Myanmar.

At a CEO roundtable discussion yesterday, top executives from 54 power companies exchanged views on their plans to reduce carbon emissions while boosting renewable energy.

An executive from China’s Huaneng Zhongtian Group said the company will contribute to reducing carbon emissions by developing a new coal thermal power plant model, which is designed to emit less carbon than existing plants.

Northpower of New Zealand showed how the company constructed its intelligent nationwide power grid. CEO Mark Gatland emphasized the importance of consumers participating in the electricity market via their own independent microgrids and electric car charging stations in each community.

New Zealand supplied 75 percent of its total national energy demand from renewable energy last year.

Kepco will take the visiting CEOs and engineers to see Korea’s renewable energy technologies in Jeju. They will also observe Gapa Island’s microgrids, which are small power grids designed to generate energy independently. The executives will also travel to see Kepco’s ESS substation.

Renewable energy engineers will have a separate technology conference.

BY KIM JI-YOON [jiyoon.kim@joonang.co.kr]