Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, POSCO, and over 500 companies with 2,195 booths
The world’s first climate-related technology and industry expo, the ‘World Climate Industry Expo (WCE),’ opened spectacularly on the 25th at BEXCO in Haeundae-gu, Busan.
This is the first event combining energy efficiency-related events such as the ‘Korea Energy Show,’ ‘Carbon Neutrality Conference,’ ‘Carbon Neutrality Expo,’ and the ‘International Environmental Energy Industry Exhibition (ENTECH).’ Twelve government ministries and local governments, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and 14 public-private affiliated organizations such as the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined forces to host the largest event of its kind in Korea.
The government chose Busan as the venue for this event, which is attended by major domestic and international companies and international organizations, to showcase its capabilities for hosting the ‘2030 Busan Expo’ to the world. Held over three days until the 27th under the theme ‘Beyond the Climate Crisis, the Path to Sustainable Prosperity,’ the event features about 500 domestic and international companies including Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Company, LG Group, POSCO, and Mercedes-Benz, setting up 2,195 booths to showcase products encompassing new carbon reduction technologies such as eco-friendly semiconductors, hydrogen turbines, and hydrogen-based steelmaking.
The exhibition hall of the 'Korea Energy Show' held last year at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, hosted by the Korea Energy Agency under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. [Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who visited the site that day, toured the exhibition booths for about 30 minutes before the opening ceremony with key government officials including Environment Minister Han Hwa-jin and corporate representatives such as SK Group Chairman and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won, experiencing climate technologies firsthand. The opening ceremony was attended by about 2,000 people, including prominent domestic and international figures such as Fatih Birol, Secretary-General of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and renowned economist and energy expert, and Richard Muller, a world-famous physicist and UC Berkeley emeritus professor.
There are a total of eight exhibition halls: Clean Energy Hall, Energy Efficiency Hall, Carbon Neutrality Hall, Future Mobility Hall, Expo Promotion Hall, Policy Finance Hall, Environmental Industry Hall, and Climate Technology Hall. In the Clean Energy Hall, visitors can see solar, wind, hydrogen, and fuel cell-related technologies from 225 companies, ranging from domestic firms such as Samsung SDI, LG Chem, LG Energy Solution, and Doosan Enerbility to overseas companies including Germany’s largest energy company RWE and Norway’s state-owned energy company Equinor. The Energy Efficiency Hall features 19 companies including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, where visitors can experience high-efficiency energy and power-saving products.
SK Group, Lotte Group, POSCO, and 106 other companies set up the Carbon Neutrality Hall to introduce green digital technologies and hydrogen-based steelmaking. Hyundai Motor Group, HD Hyundai, Volkswagen, and 18 other companies manage the Future Mobility Hall, showcasing new technologies such as electric vehicle charging solutions and autonomous driving. The Expo Promotion Hall has 45 booths dedicated to promoting the bid for the ‘Busan Expo.’
'2022 Korea Energy Show' Export Consultation Hall Scene Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
The Korea Energy Agency and KOTRA operate technology patent registration and financial support consultation sessions, as well as one-on-one export consultations during the event to support business exchanges and overseas expansion of domestic companies. The export consultation includes participation from about 100 overseas companies from 30 countries, consulting with about 180 domestic companies in energy sectors such as solar and wind power, as well as environmental fields like water treatment and waste management.
The government and public-private affiliated organizations plan to develop this event into a global leading expo for fostering the climate industry, comparable to the world’s largest home appliance and IT expo, CES (Consumer Electronics Show). The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated, “The World Climate Industry Expo offers an opportunity to see the present and future of climate technology at once,” adding, “We plan to develop it into a global representative expo that leads the way for climate technology to establish itself as a new growth engine industry.”
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