KTC Selected for Development and Demonstration Project of Grid Forming Technology
On June 30th, Korea Testing Certification institute (KTC) announced that it has been selected as a research and development institution for the project "Development and Demonstration of Grid Forming Technology for Expanding Distributed Energy Grid Connection." The project is supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning(KETEP) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
This research is one of the energy technology development projects for the year 2023, aiming to respond to energy and environmental changes and achieve sustainable growth in the energy industry.
Through this project, KTC expects to contribute to maximizing power energy efficiency and accelerating sustainable energy transition. KTC plans to play a key role in verifying the reliability and stability of grid forming technology. It will assess the feasibility of new technologies and provide technical guidelines and standards to establish a safe and efficient power system.
Grid forming is an essential technology for the operation of distributed energy. Distributed energy refers to the energy produced and consumed in various forms, including solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric power, in the vicinity of users. It has advantages of higher energy efficiency and stability compared to conventional power systems. To facilitate smooth operation of distributed energy, it is necessary to expand the grid connection capacity to stably accommodate the generated electricity, which can be achieved through grid forming technology.
Grid forming technology is the technology that independently generates frequency and voltage to form a power grid. Through this technology, it is possible to improve the interconnection between power suppliers and consumers, enhance the flexibility and stability of power systems, and maximize energy efficiency.
On the other hand, renewable energy is one of KTC's priority strategic areas, and it is an ideal testing and certification institution for the development and demonstration of grid forming technology. In Chungcheongbuk-do Eumseong-gun, a solar power cluster has been established to provide one-stop services for the development, delivery, testing, and certification of solar power products. In Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, it has a testing facility for Asia's largest 3,600V high-voltage direct current equipment and a 500kV-class HVDC cable testing site. Additionally, KTC possesses testing facilities and evaluation technologies for renewable energy systems using existing grid-following technology, enabling the utilization of related expertise.
Sungil Ahn, President of KTC, stated, "Through the demonstration and development of grid forming technology, we will support the nation and companies in responding to energy and environmental changes and contribute to leading the industry's green transformation."
▲ Overview of the inverter testing equipment at KTC New & Renewable Energy Center.
