Jeollanam-do Province seeks to become capital of AI, energy industries

Jeollanam-do Province is slated to spearhead the new administration's energy transformation as the province is home to relevant institutions.

Cha Yun-kyung explains.

The Korea Institute of Energy Technology, or KENTECH, which is the first global university solely focused on energy and technology research, welcomed its first undergraduate and graduate students in 2022.

KENTECH has five major energy research areas which are AI and energy, energy materials and devices, grid modernization, hydrogen energy, and environmental and climate technology.

KENTECH launched a national energy research center last month to establish industry-academic cooperation, in order to help the energy industry utilize and capitalize on its R&D results.

"We are studying models that can be designed by integrating power system operation, generation, transmission, and storage, which is at the highest level in Korea and, in my opinion, is not far behind the U.S. level."

"Jeollanam-do Province's efforts are now perfectly aligned with the new government's policy direction, laying the groundwork to take a greater step forward. The province will lead in energy transformation, which is a common task for mankind."

The government is expected to open a Climate and Energy Department in Jeollanam-do Province utilizing KEPCO and KENTECH, which can create industry-academic cooperation clusters.

Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.