Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
EnerNOC to help Korea change way it uses energy
Aaron Breidenbaugh /Koreatimes photo by Choi Won-suk
By Park Jin-hai
Senior director Breidenbaugh sees huge potential for DR market in Korea
By Park Jin-hai
Aaron Breidenbaugh, senior director at EnerNOC, a global provider of energy intelligence software and services, says Korea has one of the biggest potentials for the demand response (DR) market.
Contrary to the common response to increase power production, according to the rising needs, DR is about replacing energy need by creating “virtual power plants.”
“For the longest time, load has been taken as a given and it was the job to build power plants to meet the load. That went through most part of 20th century,” said Breidenbaugh during a recent interview with The Korea Times.
Instead of spending billions to build more physical power plants, demand response pays energy users to reduce consumption to help maintain the balance, he said.
“It is essentially a ‘virtual power plant’ made up of a network of energy users from across hundreds of industries that voluntarily lower their electricity usage when the grid is strained.”
EnerNOC, under the motto of “to change the way the world uses energy,” currently manages 9 gigawatt electricity in a year, which is tantamount to replacing 80 new peaking power plants or nine new nuclear power plants any year.
Korea, following the 2009 rolling blackout which inflicted great costs on the national economy, has started consulting with EnerNOC, the leading DR and power management software provider for the market feasibility.
Under the President Park Gyen-hye, DR has been pushed ahead strongly as one of the six major creative energy supply policies.
EnerNOC opened Korean office last year for the first time among Asian countries. In a matter of one year, the company says it has seen one of the fastest growths in the market here.
“In the case of Korea, the government came first and has become engaged in the consultation from early on,” he said. “Backed by the cooperation from the government, KPX and state-run utility firm KEPCO, we see more and more companies joining us including large steelmakers and productions companies whose annual consumption are large.”
EnerNOC currently has many local industrial partners who agreed to be in the block to reduce the energy use during the peak times in exchange for cheaper utility prices.
Breidenbaugh says Korea has the most attractive market for DR.
“Korea has the ninth largest peak demand in the world and the internet communication technology, required to manage demand response, has been highly developed.”
Of recently, the company also has had “virtual ground breaking ceremony” for the Seoul Green Campus Association, whereby 16 universities joined in demand response program with EnerNOC Korea, registering saved energy of 5,560kW.
The association is a non-profit NGO pursuing low-carbon emission and sustainable development for universities in Seoul.
Universities joining in Green Campus cooperate to achieve Seoul Metropolitan Government’s goal to be the Climate Change Center, Seoul.
“Seoul city chose EnerNOC as the reliable partner for their DR, because we provide site monitoring, comparison of energy usages of different sites and because of our reputation,” he said.
Asked about future goals, Breidenbaugh said, “DR will be our prime market for a while, but with energy saving intelligence technology and know-how we are planning to provide next-level service to the market.”