SK Ecoplant Prevents Shutdown During Power Outages Using Fuel Cells

Patent Acquired for Fuel Cell-Linked Uninterruptible Power Supply System

SK Ecoplant has succeeded in developing a new technology for a fuel cell-linked uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that provides stable power during outages and other emergencies.

On the 27th, SK Ecoplant announced that it has obtained a patent for the "fuel cell-linked uninterruptible power supply (UPS)" in collaboration with Ihwa Electric Industry and has begun applying it to related projects.

Ihwa Electric Industry, which co-developed the patented technology, is a power equipment specialist company established in 1956. It is also well known for commercializing uninterruptible power supplies linked with energy storage systems (ESS: Energy Storage System).

An uninterruptible power supply is a device that supplies electricity to buildings or facilities using power from KEPCO, and in the event of an outage or abnormal situation, it provides power as a backup. Recently, even temporary power outages are expected to cause significant socio-economic damage, making UPS an essential piece of equipment.

SK Ecoplant and Ihwa Electric Industry developed a direct current (DC) conversion device that directly links the electricity produced by fuel cells with the existing electrical supply system and uninterruptible power supply in buildings. The DC conversion device connects the fuel cell and the building’s electrical supply system directly without going through the power grid.

Typically, electricity generated by fuel cells is supplied to the power grid through an inverter. However, during a power outage, the inverter also stops operating, cutting off the power supply. By using the newly developed DC conversion device, electricity produced by the fuel cell can continuously supply essential facilities even during outages. Depending on the project scale, SK Ecoplant has saved a total of 840 million KRW across more than 10 power generation projects where this solution has been applied.

SK Ecoplant plans to lead the fuel cell-linked technology innovation initiative, including patents. In fact, SK Ecoplant has independently developed a modular system that recovers heat wasted after power generation and utilizes it for heating and hot water supply through cooperation with Bloom Energy and domestic small and medium enterprises.

Park Kyung-il, President of SK Ecoplant, said, "This patent proves that fuel cells can contribute to our lives not only by producing power as distributed energy resources but also through various applications. SK Ecoplant, as a leading company in the domestic fuel cell market, will strive to contribute to achieving the government’s goal of 3 billion USD in cumulative fuel cell exports by 2030."