World Energy Congress plans to show Korea’s energy future

A man goes to work in a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle in the morning. He turned on an air conditioner at home with electricity that he stored in energy storage systems (ESS) last night. His company has no worries about electricity bills because it has its own photovoltaic power generator. He does not even remember the power crises which repeatedly happened in summer and winter. All buildings can check the real-time demand of electricity so that power generators can control the production and supessly of power real-time. The surplus electricity is exported to other countries.

This is the blueprint of energy in Korea that the government expects. The exhibition hall will open to show the future of energy. It is the “Hall of Energy Technology in Korea” (Korea Hall – see the bird’s eye view), which will be set up at the World Energy Congress in Daegu on October 13 through 17.

The World Energy Congress (WEC), which is the world’s largest energy event, will have delegations from some 140 countries including energy ministers from around 60 countries. The event is held in Asia in 18 years since the 16th congress of the WEC held in Japan, and global energy leaders including the CEOs of global energy companies will speak at the event.

The Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning will set up the Korea Hall in EXCO Daegu where the event takes place and allows participants and visitors to see the present and future of Korean energy technologies.

The Korea Hall will exhibit a wide range of new energy technologies such as ESS and electricity vehicles which are under development by Korean companies. It will show the principles of energy storage systems, which stores energy during off-peak hours and uses it during the peak hours, and electricity vehicles loaded with fuel cells, and how these new technologies can be used in people’s daily lives.

It will also exhibit smart grid technology which allows energy companies, households and companies to check real tie demand and supply and renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic power. In addition, it will show a video clip which includes the energy history of Korea which turned from energy importer to energy exporter, and the future of people’s lives after the introduction of new energy technologies which are under development.

The facade of the Korean Hall resembles “sangmo,” a symbol of traditional music and dance performed by farmers, to introduce the beauty of Korean traditional culture to visitors. Beside the hall will be a large cutting-edge panel display looking like a chimney to provide visitors with various video clips and information.