Korea Energy Research Institute, ‘cooperation’ between industry, academia, and research institutes to achieve carbon neutrality for small and medium-sized enterprises

[충청뉴스 이성현 기자] The Korea Institute of Energy Research is bringing together industry, academia, and research institutes to achieve carbon neutrality for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Energy Research Institute announced on the 27th that it held a special session on ‘Development of core technologies for conversion of industrial process heat energy to electricity for small and medium-sized enterprises’ jointly hosted by the Korean Society of Facility Engineers.

Electrification technology, which is considered a major trend in the energy system paradigm shift along with decarbonization, digitalization, and decentralization, is a key means of achieving carbon neutrality.

In the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero-Emission 2050 scenario, the global carbon dioxide reduction (cumulative) due to electrification accounts for approximately 20% of the total reduction, and the proportion of reduction due to electrification is 27% by 2050. It is expected to expand.

Thermal energy supply facilities used in domestic industrial processes are currently dependent on fossil fuels, so in order to achieve the country’s greenhouse gas reduction goal, it is essential to switch to facilities that utilize carbon-free power sources, especially renewable energy, and the carbon border of developed countries is essential. In order to adjust and respond to the carbon footprint system of global companies, the development and distribution of thermal energy conversion technology is very important.

In this special session, experts from industry, academia, and research institutes related to thermal energy conversion to electricity shared the status of related technology development and discussed the direction of industry development and ways to promote technology diffusion.

Regarding the steel industry, which is the leading industry emitting greenhouse gases in Korea, Dr. Lee Hu-kyung of the Energy Research Institute introduced ‘Electrification conversion of the horizontal continuous steel plate annealing furnace facility process’ and Professor Jeong Jae-won of Korea University introduced ‘Design technology in the continuous steel plate annealing furnace’.

Regarding the oil refining and chemical industry, which is another greenhouse gas emitting industry, Professor Seong Su-hwan of Kyungpook National University gave a presentation on ‘Development status and application cases of domestic advanced automation software for the chemical industry’, and Professor Gyeong-hwan Yoo of Suncheon National University gave a presentation on ‘Control design according to the conversion of distillation reboiler to electricity’. followed by Dr. Seong Young-hoon from the Institute of Energy explained the ‘Status of SiC development for electrification of industrial heat equipment’.

Dr. Dong-Woo Cho of the Energy Research Institute, the chair of this special session, said, “In response to the carbon border tax and carbon footprint system that are being introduced or promoted mainly in advanced countries such as the EU and the United States, the development and distribution of technology for electrification of industrial heat equipment is being promoted by domestic mid-sized companies and companies. “We will be able to support small and medium-sized industries,” he said. “Such technical support is very meaningful for small and medium-sized industries that are complaining of a lack of funds, manpower, technology, and facilities to respond to new environmental changes.”

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