S. Korea, Illinois to cooperate in 'smart grid' construction

SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the U.S. state of Illinois agreed
Wednesday in Seoul to cooperate in the creation of a viable "smart grid" network
in the United States, government officials said.

Earlier in the day, Knowledge Economy Minister Choi Kyung-hwan and Warren Ribley,
head of Illinois's Department of Commerce, signed a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) on the deal that calls for the two sides to set up a pilot community in
South Korea, conduct research and development (R&D) and the training of related
personnel.
A smart grid refers to an emerging technology that allows real-time monitoring of
electricity output and demand. The system is designed to incorporate solar panels
and wind generators into the main power grid, and lets consumers store energy and
sell it back to the power company.
"The MOU represents a strategic partnership that could give South Korea a
foothold in the giant U.S. energy grid sector, while giving Illinois a chance to
attract business investments and create jobs," a ministry official said.
South Korea enjoys global competitiveness in electric power generation,
communications, electronics and autos, while the United States possesses world
class technology and R&D facilities.
"By maximizing the strengths of both sides, the deal is expected to open new
horizons for the wide-scale use of the hightech grid system," he said.
The system, if used in everyday life, can help cut back on overall power use and
can facilitate production of eco-friendly reusable energy sources.
Under the plan, the two sides will use the pilot community on Jeju Island off
South Korea southern coast to check feasibilities of existing technologies and
operational models. This will take place in tandem with cooperation by think
tanks and laboratories from both sides and to localize knowhow gained for use in
Illinois.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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