[비즈한국] Moving beyond a centralized structure that draws electricity from afar, 'distributed energy'—where power is produced, stored, and consumed locally—has emerged as a new keyword for the Korean power industry. Bringing together Energy Storage Systems (ESS), grid stabilization technologies, DC-based equipment, and AI control solutions, the industry presented its solutions for how to support a power grid that is wobbling under the expansion of renewable energy and the surging power demand of AI data centers.
Korea Smart Grid Expo 2026 and Elec Korea 2026 were held concurrently at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from February 4th to 6th. The Korea Smart Grid Expo is the only exhibition in the country specializing in smart grids, hosted by the Korea Smart Grid Association, while Elec Korea is the largest exhibition in the domestic electric industry, hosted by the Korea Electrical Manufacturers Association.
This year's exhibition, themed 'Future Energy Connected by Direct Current (DC) and Controlled by Artificial Intelligence (AI),' showcased the △Energy Storage System (ESS) Industry Exhibition, △Distributed Energy Industry Exhibition, and △Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Industry Exhibition. Jung Moon-sik, Head of the Planning Division at the Korea Smart Grid Association, said, "Data centers, ESS, direct current, and distributed energy are receiving particular attention at this exhibition," but added, "The charging infrastructure sector has shrunk somewhat due to the EV chasm effect."
Distributed energy-related technologies took center stage at this exhibition. Various technologies were introduced to supplement and stabilize the power grid, as grid instability can arise during the expansion of distributed energy due to the variability of renewable energy, lack of grid inertia, and the surging power demand from AI data centers.
LS Cable & System006260 displayed its 'LS Ultracapacitor' at the booth. An ultracapacitor is a next-generation energy storage device with characteristics between a conventional electrolytic capacitor and a rechargeable battery, featuring rapid responsiveness and high power output. Kim Min-ho, a deputy manager of the sales team at LS Cable & System, explained, "If a conventional battery is like a large water bottle with a narrow opening, an ultracapacitor is closer to a glass cup," adding, "Its capacity is smaller, but its high instantaneous output makes it effective for stabilizing power quality."
LS ELECTRIC unveiled its 'Beyond X CTTS' for the first time at this exhibition. CTTS is a device that minimizes power supply interruptions by performing temporary parallel operation between Korea Electric Power Corporation015760 power and emergency generators during a power outage.
Korea Electric Power Corporation introduced a supercapacitor system for frequency regulation. This method combines ESS and supercapacitors to quickly correct changes in power grid frequency. KEPCO KDN exhibited 'E:moeum,' a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) integrated platform that operates multiple renewable energy generation facilities as a single power plant, along with a renewable energy monitoring and control device that manages the rated output of solar inverters.
Large-scale power grid facilities also drew attention. LG Energy Solution373220 showcased its grid-use ESS, the 'JF2 DC link 5.0.' It features a structure where LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery packs are connected in a link format, with initial production scheduled to begin in May this year. Hyosung Heavy Industries introduced Korea's first voltage-source HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) system to support the construction of the West Coast Energy Highway, and displayed a model of a 200MW-class HVDC converter station located in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, at its booth.
