The North Dangjin-Sintangjeong transmission line [Herald Business DB]
The North Dangjin-Sintangjeong transmission line [Herald Business DB]

South Korea will introduce grid-forming technology in long-duration battery energy storage systems (BESS) set to begin commercial operations at the end of next year.

Grid-forming is a technology that controls inverter-based equipment — such as energy storage systems and solar panels — to independently generate voltage and frequency. When inverter-based equipment can form its own voltage and frequency, it helps the overall power grid maintain a stable frequency.

The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy said Wednesday it has established performance requirements for grid-forming capabilities, which will be mandatory for long-duration BESS units procured through the central contract market and entering commercial operation in December 2027.

Under the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, the central contract market is set to procure 540 megawatts of long-duration BESS in each of 2027 and 2028 — covering both the mainland and Jeju — and 600 megawatts for the mainland in 2029.

Long-duration BESS are facilities capable of storing large amounts of electricity for extended periods, ranging from a minimum of eight hours to several weeks.

Grid-forming technology has drawn attention as a solution to declining grid stability, a problem that has grown as the expansion of renewable energy generation has increased the share of inverter-based equipment on the system.

"As the energy transition toward renewable energy accelerates, measures to address grid instability must be developed in parallel," said Lee Jae-sik, director general for grid policy at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. "We will secure grid stability by operating energy storage systems with grid-forming capabilities, and will continue to strengthen performance requirements so that equipment with grid-forming technology can contribute to stabilizing the power grid."


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com