Korea

A planned test-bed project on smart grids allows energy providers to orchestrate electricity in two-way communications with appliances.

SunEdison executed a non-binding MOU for the establishment of 400 MW of solar power plants in Gyeongsangnam-do.

ABB will provide complete power systems, drilling drive and propulsion systems for a new deep water drilling rig in South Korea. This will be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering at its shipyard. The end customer is Brazilian ship owner Petroserv, who will operate the drilling rig for Petrobras.

South Korean companies have pledged to contribute US$83 million to complete designs on the Smart reactor.

South Korea and Turkey have signed an agreement to cooperate in nuclear projects. The former had been bidding to build for Turkish power plants and the agreement is seen as a step towards that direction. The plant is worth an estimated $10 billion.

After 15 years of construction Kepco's 765kV transmission line in Kyung-ki province finally began its commercial operation. The 80km transmission line with 154 pylons connects seven cities in Kyung-ki province including Yong-in and Kwang-ju.

Forgemasters will provide components to support primary reactor pumps in South Korea's Shin Kori 3 and 4 power stations.

AMSC has received an order for 30 sets of wind turbine power electronic components from Hyundai Heavy Industries.

American Superconductor Corporation has expanded its superconductor power cable strategic business alliance with LS Alliance. Under the new agreement, the two companies will work collaboratively to deploy more than 50 kilometers of superconductor power cables in commercial power grids over the next five years. The original alliance, established in September 2009, called for the deployment of a minimum of 10 km of superconductor power cables during that same period.

KEPCO seeks to address false reports blaming it of power failures caused by customers' faults.

American Superconductor Corporation has formed AMSC Korea to serve South Korea’s rapidly growing wind energy and power grid markets. Headquartered in Busan, South Korea, the new division will provide local applications engineering, sales, business development and field service support for AMSC customers, which include LS Cable, KEPCO, KEPRI, KERI, Doosan Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Calling it the new source of profit creation, Kepco's main concern is how soon it can complete its smart grid technology.

KEPCO is putting the blame on the Korean government for its operating loss of US$2.75 billion and current net loss of US$2.215 billion. The deficit is the first for the company in its history.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., has awarded Areva and DAELIM Industrial Co. a contract to replace the six steam generators on the Ulchin 1 & 2 NPPs. These will be implemented during outages planned for 2011 and 2012.

AREVA won an order worth over US$112.9M from KEPCO to supply the converter stations for a 400MW High Voltage Direct Current bipole scheme. The converter stations will transform alternating current into direct current, linking the South Korea’s Jeju Island to the mainland.

LS Cable Ltd. has ordered approximately 80,000 meters of 344 superconductors from American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) to be used in manufacturing a 22.9 kilovolt (kV) cable system set to be installed in the commercial power delivery network of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).