Gyeonggi Province, Goyang City, KEPCO, and LS ELECTRIC Launch Korea's First Shared ESS Demonstration Project

Four Organizations Join Forces for Two-Year, 5 MWh Project
Aiming to Stabilize the Power Grid and Develop New Energy Business Models

Gyeonggi Province, Goyang Special City, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and LS ELECTRIC announced on July 8 that they will launch the nation's first demonstration project for a shared Energy Storage System (ESS).

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

This project aims to install ESS units at public institutions and other sites, storing electricity during periods of excess production and releasing the stored power when demand surges. The goal is to enhance grid stability while simultaneously reducing electricity costs.

The four organizations held a signing ceremony for the "Shared ESS Demonstration Project" business agreement at 3:00 p.m. on July 8 at Goyang Eoullimnuri. They agreed to establish a cooperative system to stabilize the power grid and develop new energy business models.

Specifically, the plan involves installing ESS units by the end of this year at Goyang Eoullimnuri, a public institution in Goyang City, as well as at private business sites with high electricity demand. Field demonstrations will begin next year. Electricity will be stored during periods of low demand and lower rates, such as late at night. The stored energy will then be supplied to nearby public institutions and private companies during peak demand periods, such as midday in the summer.

The total ESS capacity will be 5 MWh (based on battery capacity), and the project will be carried out over two years (2025?2026). The total project budget is 3.2 billion won. This consists of 500 million won from the "Smart ESS·EMS (Energy Management System) Installation Support Project" funded by Gyeonggi Province and Goyang City, and 2.7 billion won from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's "Future Regional Energy Ecosystem Revitalization Project," which combines national, local, and private funding.

The shared ESS structure, in which multiple energy consumers participate jointly and share incentives, is drawing attention for its economic viability and scalability.

The provincial government explained that such a shared ESS can prevent power outages and enhance grid stability, while also reducing electricity costs by storing energy during periods of lower rates. The demonstration's symbolic significance is heightened by its launch in Goyang City, a key hub of the Northern Gyeonggi Remodeling Project.

According to the "Regulations on Rationalization of Energy Use by Public Institutions," public institutions with contracted power above a certain level are required to install ESS units. Through this joint installation, some institutions can receive credit for compliance without having to build separate equipment, resulting in budget savings.

Ko Youngin, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "The shared ESS demonstration project is a pioneering effort in power system transformation, setting a model for public-private cooperation led by the public sector and expanded by the private sector. Gyeonggi Province will continue to foster the energy environment necessary for discovering new energy businesses and supporting the growth of future industries."