"Digital innovations such as automated drone inspection, Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI), and strengthening grid resilience are some of the tools that the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has been implementing to tackle power challenges due to COVID-19"

BBL Date - September 9, 2020

Recently, the World Bank EEX GP proposed deployment of battery storage as both short and medium-term policy measures to strengthen grid resilience as well as support labor-intensive energy programs in its COVID-19 summary note. Korea is a frontrunner in deploying a grid-scale energy storage system as well as continuously upgrading and optimizing the operation and maintenance of transmission and distribution networks. In 2018, the Korean power sector had an impressive power loss factor of 3.56% proving to have one of the most efficient power systems in the world.

However, the COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted the Korean demand for power due to increased home-based work and a surge of unemployment as businesses shut down. Power utilities are seeing this impact on multiple fronts as overall revenue decreases. Digital innovations such as automated drone inspection, Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI), and strengthening grid resilience are some of the tools that the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has been implementing to tackle these challenges. This session aims at introducing these innovations and engage participants in discussions on how post-COVID-19 power sectors should be designed.