The nation’s power demand soared to 96 GW at 6 p.m. on Aug. 25, renewing the highest-ever peak power demand one this summer, Korea Power Exchange (KPX) said.
A sultry spell, which started earlier this summer, lasted longer than usual. Due to the heat spell, power demand hit 95.675 GW, the previous record high in July. The heat spell continued to last more than one month.
According to KPX, as hot and humid air, influenced by North Pacific high pressure entered the peninsula, heatwaves lasted for a long period of time. This phenomenon caused cooling demand to soar for a long period of time.
The photovoltaic power sector produced 21.285 GW, the highest level ever recorded, during the day, contributing to stabilizing power supply.
The portion of the photovoltaic power sector accounted for a maximum of 20 percent during its peak time, establishing itself as one of the nation’s major power resources.
A view of the integrated situation room of Korea Power Exchange.
The highest peak was recorded at 6 p.m. at a time when photovoltaic power generation declined, but the photovoltaic power sector produced 3.7 GW. The reserve power and reserve power rate stood at 9.1 GW and 9.4 percent, respectively.
Even though total demand is difficult to be compared to reserve power, it was meaningful to see the reserve power rate record a one-digit figure during the corresponding time. A heat wave is predicted to raise the power demand once again.
This year’s highest power demand is forecast to hit 97.8 GW. The figure is a little more than 97.115 GW, last year’s highest level recorded in August.
Acting KPX President Kim Hong-keun said, “As a heat wave is expected to last for the time being, power demand is predicted to rise, and the government and related organizations will closely cooperate and be on an alert to manage power supply.”
Acting KPX President Kim urged consumers to conserve power by avoiding the use of unnecessary power between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., the highest power demand time.
KPX Signs R&D Deal with EPRI to Raise Expertise Capability in Power Industry
Korea Power Exchange (KPX) struck an agreement on R&D with the U.S. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to ramp up its expertise capability in the power industry.
Under the agreement, KPX is participating in the Data Center Flexible Load Initiative (DC Flex) and Open Power AI (OPAI), EPRI’s major projects.
EPRI was established in 1972 to conduct basic research and develop application technologies.
The U.S. non-profit research institute carries out R&D projects worth some 500 billion won annually and support them.
DC Flex was launched by EPRI in October 2024. It is designed to raise the stability of the power grid through flexibility by using data centers as resources to cope with the operation of the power grid.
Currently, about 40 institutions and companies, including Microsoft, Google, Meta and CAISO, are participating in the initiative. The project calls for verifying R&D by establishing five-to-10 flexibility hubs.
OPAI is a project to prioritize the building of an efficient regime for the operation and management of the power grid by raising the prediction capability of electricity demand through data-based analysis using AI. Some 80 institutions and companies, including NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon and PJM, are participating in the project.
KPX plans to raise its R&D capability in the energy sector to spread the use of AI through the agreement and ramp up expertise for supporting the expansion of AI infrastructure, such as data centers.
KPX’s Acting President Kim Hong-keun said, “Under the agreement, KPX will support the government’s goal of becoming a top-three AI powerhouse by ramping up policy support in the power sector and establishing itself as an entity to spearhead global technology innovation by raising the sustainability of the power industry.”
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