As the government pursues simultaneous expansion of renewable energy to 100GW by 2030 and enhancement of grid capacity, the competitiveness of South Korea's power generation industry is extending beyond power plant construction to technology that connects more renewable energy to existing grids. Following the announcement of the Korean-style Green Transition Strategy on October 7, grid innovation using energy storage systems (ESS) and flexible interconnection has begun in earnest, and the role of state-owned power generation companies that have secured artificial intelligence-based storage operation and power generation forecasting technology is growing.
EWP (Korea East-West Power) is responding to these changes by constructing ESS totalling 60MWh across three distribution lines in North Jeolla and additionally connecting approximately 17MW of solar power generation facilities. The significance lies in combining this project with 854MW of power generation forecasting experience, the first domestic distribution network ESS model to enhance renewable energy capacity using existing grids. This project, secured under President Kwon Myung-ho's leadership, is expected to become an opportunity to expand EWP's future growth assets from power plant expansion to technology that improves grid operation efficiency.
60MWh storage enables additional 17MW solar connection and improves grid utilization
The most notable aspect of EWP's North Jeolla ESS project is that the 60MWh storage facility supports the additional connection of approximately 17MW of solar power generation equipment to the grid.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment's AI-based ESS construction support project installs ESS on distribution networks in areas where solar power facilities are concentrated, raising the utilization of existing grids. It is designed to accommodate additional renewable energy generation facilities awaiting connection without large-scale expansion of the power grid.
EWP was selected as the project developer in July this year through a consortium formed with Korea Electric Power Service and Shinsung E&C. The project targets three distribution lines in North Jeolla, with plans to construct ESS totalling 60MWh, 20MWh per line.
The standard project model presented by the government involves installing ESS with 4MW output and 20MWh storage capacity on one distribution line to additionally connect approximately 5.7MW of solar power generation equipment. Applying this to EWP's three lines results in total ESS output of 12MW, storage capacity of 60MWh, and a target of approximately 17MW additional solar interconnection.
This differs from projects that simply scale up storage capacity. The structure works by having ESS absorb power flows generated during peak solar generation hours on existing distribution networks, then supply stored electricity during periods when the grid has spare capacity, thereby increasing the possibility of new generation facilities connecting to the grid.
ESS with 4MW output and 20MWh storage capacity can discharge for approximately five hours at rated output. However, actual operating time and charge and discharge volume vary depending on battery state of charge, grid conditions, and operating parameters.
What matters is that 60MWh of storage capacity does not directly translate to 17MW of generation. The 17MW represents the capacity of solar power generation equipment seeking additional connection, with actual power production and grid accommodation effects through ESS determined by generation hours and charge and discharge operating results.
