[Climate Tech Series (18)] "Turning All Roads into Power Grids"... 'IonEarth' Providing Eco-Friendly Electricity

Interview with Heo Eun, CEO of Ionus... Providing Eco-Friendly Power with Mobile ESS
Self-Developed Battery Pack Ensuring Safety
Domestic Sales to Start in Second Half... Targeting 29 Billion KRW in Revenue

The proportion of renewable energy in the total electricity production of our country is only about 8%. This is a significant gap compared to the voluntary campaign aiming to supply 100% of electricity consumption from renewable energy, with the average renewable energy ratio of 'RE100' member companies being around 50%. IonEarth is a company developing mobile energy storage systems (ESS) to increase this low renewable energy ratio. They supply eco-friendly electricity through ESS that can store electricity anywhere and release it when needed.

At the headquarters in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, CEO Heo Eun of IonEarth said, "We manufacture eco-friendly energy storage devices to solve the climate crisis," adding, "We are leading the market by being the first in the industry to complete performance certification and commercialization of mobile ESS." CEO Heo transitioned from the IT industry to the renewable energy sector 15 years ago after seeing its potential and established IonEarth in 2020. He expressed his ambition, saying, "Our goal is to make every road an electric grid."

Heo Eun, CEO of Ionus, is introducing a mobile ESS product at the headquarters in Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi Province.
[Photo by Yeom Dayeon]

IonEarth mounts its self-developed energy battery packs on trucks to supply electricity on the move. Through mobile ESS, they efficiently manage renewable energy generation and store surplus electricity after supply to provide it to various locations. Their main products include 'Indigo Mobile,' which supplies power at venues or construction sites without diesel generators, and 'Indigo Charge,' a mobile charging service for electric vehicles.

The most emphasized aspect in battery pack development is safety. Based on various electric vehicle battery test results, IonEarth succeeded in developing batteries optimized for the characteristics of mobile ESS, such as vibrations and shocks occurring during vehicle operation. They also reduced fire risks through pre-diagnosis and real-time monitoring. CEO Heo stated, "If thermal runaway is detected inside the battery, it is submerged in water to prevent fire," adding, "Our self-developed battery pack 'MoBatt' has obtained safety certification for mobile ESS products."

IonEarth has reduced approximately 13.6 tons of carbon dioxide through over 30 eco-friendly power supply pilot projects over two years. CEO Heo explained, "When replacing diesel generators with energy mobility like Indigo Mobile for supplying 10 MWh (megawatt-hours) of electricity, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by more than 73%," adding, "It also achieves noise and fine dust reduction, fuel cost savings, and secures business economics." He further added, "I feel a sense of fulfillment contributing to the clean energy transportation and supply sector amid the worsening climate crisis."

Heo Eun, CEO of Ionus, is introducing the battery pack she personally developed.
[Photo by Yeom Da-yeon]

IonEarth plans to start sales in the domestic market in the second half of this year and begin full-scale exports from next year. They are also pursuing a co-export model in collaboration with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). CEO Heo said, "After the related regulatory sandbox ended in March, we have recently completed all preparations for product sales," adding, "Since we have already established a U.S. branch with investors, we plan to start exports and local production as soon as overseas certifications are finalized."

IonEarth's sales were 1.3 billion KRW in 2022 and grew to 2.9 billion KRW last year. This year, the sales target has been raised tenfold to 29 billion KRW. Interest in eco-friendly energy is heating up, and mobile ESS, which is still an early-stage market, has great growth potential. CEO Heo stated, "The global electrification market is expected to reach 350 trillion KRW by 2030, and our current goal is to capture 1% of that share," adding, "As demand is expected to increase further, we will become an innovative company leading the market with advanced technology and safety."

Ionus's 'Indigo Mobile'. It can supply power at event venues or construction sites without a diesel generator.
[Photo by Yeom Dayeon]