Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), South Korea’s largest electric utility, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ABB to supply the country’s first high-inertia flywheel synchronous condenser for Jeju Island. This innovative project is designed to bolster the island’s power grid stability as it increasingly integrates renewable energy sources, crucial for achieving Jeju’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2035.
Jeju Island, situated 240 km south of the Korean peninsula and home to approximately 670,000 residents, is a key tourist destination attracting over 15 million visitors annually. As the island rapidly expands its renewable energy infrastructure, particularly in wind and solar, the stability of its power grid faces new challenges. Historically, fossil fuel-powered turbines provided the spinning inertia necessary to maintain grid stability. However, as these turbines are phased out, the grid’s inertia decreases, complicating the integration of additional renewable resources.
To address this, KEPCO is implementing ABB’s synchronous condenser technology, a system that mimics the operational characteristics of traditional coal or gas generators to supply the needed inertia. ABB’s synchronous condensers are already in use on other island grids worldwide, including the Faroes, Balearic, and Canary Islands, and are now set to support Jeju’s transition to renewable energy.
The ABB synchronous condenser, rated at 50 megavolt-ampere reactive power (Mvar) and close to 500 megawatt-seconds (MWs), will be installed near a high voltage direct current (HVDC) station in northern Jeju, where a subsea cable connects the island to the mainland grid. Its high-inertia configuration, coupled with a large flywheel, is expected to multiply the available inertia, maintaining grid frequency and voltage stability.
Eun-Bo Sim, President of KEPCO Research Institute, remarked, “The integration of ABB’s flywheel synchronous condenser system will significantly enhance the stability of Jeju’s power grid as we continue our commitment to sustainable energy solutions.”
Kristina Carlquist, Head of Synchronous Condenser Product Line at ABB, added, “ABB’s technology will play a pivotal role in improving frequency stability in Jeju’s power grid. We are excited to set new standards for flywheel synchronous condenser systems in South Korea and to collaborate with KEPCO in advancing the nation’s green energy transition.”
The Jeju Island synchronous condenser is being designed and manufactured by ABB in Sweden, with the project slated for completion by the end of 2026. ABB continues to lead in electrification and automation, with a focus on sustainable, resource-efficient innovations.
