South Korea

Korean utility KEPCO completed a 978 MW battery project that us billed as Asia’s largest battery energy storage system for grid stabilization purposes.

A research team from South Korea’s Ulsan National Institute of Science & Technology (UNIST) has designed a wire-free transparent solar cell and module with all electrical contacts placed on the rear side. A 16 cm² module achieved a power conversion efficiency of 14.7% and successfully charged a smartphone using natural sunlight.

Scientists have proposed a new system that uses surplus PV energy in the spring and the autumn to charge up underground thermal energy storage for later use in the summer and winter. They have simulated it on a school facility in Seoul, with a few optional configurations for thermal storage. Power savings were up to 39%.

South Korea installed 1.2 GW of solar in the first half of 2024, according to the Korea Energy Agency. It says the nation will deploy between 2.7 GW and 2.8 GW of PV capacity this year, continuing the market’s decline since its 2020 peak.

Linde has signed a long-term deal to supply clean hydrogen in Alberta, Canada, while Hyundai Motor and Pertamina have agreed to jointly develop Indonesia’s hydrogen ecosystem.

Scientists have tested several machine-learning algorithms to predict the optimal tilt angle (OTA) of solar projects in 37 Indian cities, leading to improvements of up to 90%.

The new products utilize propane refrigerant and have a seasonal coefficient of performance of over 5. According to the manufacturer, it can achieve a flow temperature of 75 C, even when it is -15 C outside.

Multiple incidents, including deaths and evacuations, have led to the Korean goverment asking carmakers to voluntarily disclose the makers of batteries in their EVs, with some surprising results.

A research team at Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) in South Korea is tackling the use of solar PV in non-ideal conditions with a new tool to optimize for urban and indoor PV diffuse light and partial shading conditions. The team also developed three-dimensional solar modules featuring a glass-free, lightweight design that features self-tracking that reportedly produces 60% more power compared to conventional flat modules.

BlackRock’s climate infrastructure business has increased its stake in Brite Energy Partners. The KRW 100 billion ($72 million) investment will help to scale the South Korean independent power producer’s solar portfolio and expand its energy storage and EV charging operations.