SK Telecom, local energy companies to develop power plant monitoring system

Representatives from 60Hertz, KERI, SK Telecom, SK Energy and Soft Berry pose for a photo Wednesday after signing a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a virtual power plant. [SK TELECOM]

SK Telecom will develop a power plant monitoring system for renewable energy together with local energy companies and a research institute.

The telecom company on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop technologies for a virtual power plant with SK Energy, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), 60Hertz and Soft Berry.

A virtual power plant, a network of decentralized power generators, is a key technology used to manage power generated from renewable energy power plants, whether it be solar or wind.

The goal is to develop key technologies for a virtual power plant, which involve a power demand forecast for renewable energy plants and electric vehicles (EVs), optimal control technology for energy storage systems, and energy management system-based electricity trading.

SK Telecom hopes to set up a virtual power plant that predicts the energy output of the renewable energy plants that are scattered across Korea and supports the production, storage and trading of clean energy.

SK Energy, an oil refinery wholly owned by SK Innovation, is turning its gas stations into "Energy Super Station," which have EV chargers connected to solar panels. The company will offer its technologies and sites for the project, according to SK Telecom.

60Hertz, a local start-up operating a virtual power plant system that predicts the volume of clean energy generation, will partake in developing a solar power generation map and technology to forecast solar energy generation output. Soft Berry, which runs an app for EV charging stations, will use its data in developing an energy demand prediction system.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]