Korea Electric Power Corp. signed a technology cooperation agreement with Latvia’s Sadales tīkls on June 17, marking the Korean utility’s entry into Europe as it seeks to commercialize its Grid-K advanced distribution management system.
The agreement was concluded during the 28th International Distribution Network Council conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, where KEPCO showcased its integrated platform to European power operators. Grid-K ADMS was fully implemented nationwide last September and now faces its first significant international deployment test.
Sadales tīkls, a subsidiary of state-owned Latvenergo, supplies electricity to 99% of Latvia’s power users and serves over one million customer facilities. The partnership comes as Latvia plans to convert more than 50% of its energy consumption to renewable energy by 2030, requiring sophisticated grid management systems to handle variable renewable sources.
KEPCO’s technology export drive reflects the company’s efforts to diversify revenue streams as domestic growth slows. The company faces a deficit that has reached 43 trillion won ($32 billion) and has been pushing for electricity rate increases to improve financial stability.
The cooperation includes demonstration projects, joint research on distribution network efficiency, and potential commercialization across European markets. However, KEPCO must prove its system can adapt to European regulatory standards and integrate with existing infrastructure before wider deployment becomes viable.
