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| A worksite for a safety demonstration of undersea power cable protection technology is seen in Gochang, North Jeolla Province. / Courtesy of KEPCO |
By Kim Jae-heun
The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has been developing core technology for large-scale offshore wind power energy transmission in an effort to achieve carbon neutrality.
The production of renewable energy produced from wind and solar power is strongly affected by constantly changing weather conditions and requires smart and highly efficient electrical grids that can store or transmit excess generated electricity to consumers in the capital area.
Large-scale offshore wind power in Korea is mostly generated in waters off South Jeolla Province and South Gyeongsang Province. An electrical grid is required to receive and send electricity to consumers in the capital area, but the country's transmission network is insufficiently equipped.
KEPCO has been leading the development of domestic high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology since 1998, by localizing related equipment and conducting necessary research and development to supply power stably on Jeju Island. The HVDC method of transmission has the advantage of adjusting and transmitting electricity as quickly as necessary to the desired location making it suitable for highly volatile power sources such as offshore wind power.
Recently, multi-terminal high voltage direct current (MTDC) technology has been gaining popularity in countries like the United Kingdom, Denmark and Germany. It connects HVDC transmission lines from electricity generation areas to multiple destinations efficiently.
In addition, MTDC technology is advantageous for long-distance transmission using cables, so when they are built under the sea from the southern coast to the west coast of Korea, they can provide reliable energy transmission as well as reduce construction and operation costs of energy transmission networks.
By 2023, KEPCO plans to develop control technology and operation strategies as well as efficient design for the next-generation MTDC grid by reviewing its technical and economic effects based on various predicted scenarios.
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