LS Electric and KEPCO Join Forces to Jointly Develop Grid-Forming Technology for Distribution Networks

MOU Signed for Cooperation on Grid-Forming Technology

Technology That Independently Establishes Voltage and Frequency

Global Market Expansion Planned Following Domestic Demonstration

LS Electric is joining hands with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to jointly develop “distribution-level grid-forming” technology to ensure the stability of distribution networks, whose importance has grown with the expansion of renewable energy.

LS Electric announced on September 15 that it had signed a “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for technological cooperation on distribution-level power electronics” with KEPCO the previous day at LS Tower in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. The signing ceremony was attended by Jangcheol Seo, Chief Technology Officer for Power at LS Electric (Executive Director), Daehan Kim, Director of KEPCO Power Research Institute, as well as key officials from both companies.

Under this agreement, the two companies will jointly pursue research, development, and demonstration involving all aspects of distribution-level power electronics technology. Major areas of cooperation include: grid-forming technology for supporting distribution networks; next-generation smart transformers; and grid-connected microgrid technologies including black start capabilities.

The core focus, “grid-forming for distribution network support,” is a technology that differs from the conventional “grid-following” approach, where inverter-based distributed resources such as solar, wind, and energy storage systems (ESS) simply track the grid’s voltage and frequency. Instead, grid-forming can independently establish voltage and frequency within the power system, reducing distribution network volatility and supporting stable grid operation.

LS Electric announced on the 15th that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) for cooperation in power electronics technology for distribution power at LS Tower in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 14th. The photo shows Jangchul Seo, Power CTO (Senior Executive Vice President) of LS Electric (right), and Daehan Kim, Director of KEPCO Power Research Institute (left), posing for a commemorative photo at the signing ceremony. LS Electric. Photo by LS Electric.

This technology remains in the early stages of commercialization globally. Through this joint research effort, LS Electric and KEPCO plan to conduct domestic demonstrations and pursue joint commercialization to expand into global export markets.

In addition, the two companies will concurrently research smart transformer technology, which integrates digital communications to enable real-time monitoring and control of the power grid, as well as black start-based microgrid technologies that can rapidly restart the power system using in-house emergency power in the event of a large-scale blackout.

An official from LS Electric stated, “As the number of inverter-based distributed power sources increases rapidly, the importance of distribution-level grid-forming technology—which autonomously establishes standards to stabilize the grid—is growing day by day. By combining LS Electric’s power equipment and power conversion solutions with the distribution network research capabilities of the KEPCO Power Research Institute, we aim to secure distribution network technologies optimized for distributed energy environments, gain a first-mover advantage in the global market, and further enhance the export competitiveness of Korean power technologies.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.