President Kim Jong-kap of Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) writes his signature on a photovoltaic power panel as he attends a ceremony to launch a project to build 294MW photovoltaic power plant in Mexico City on Nov. 14. (Photo: KEPCO)

Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) held a ceremony to launch a project to build a 294MW photovoltaic power plant in Mexico City on Nov. 14. Among about 60 people on hand at the event were KEPCO President Kim Jong-kap, Korean Ambassador to Mexico Kim Snag-il, Mexican Power Exchange President Alfonso Flores and Canadian Solar Development Division President Ismael Guerrero.

In June, KEPCO was selected as a preferred bidder of the project ordered by Canadian Solar through an international bidding.

A contract on the project was struck in September. The project calls for the construction of photovoltaic power plants with a combined facility capacity of 294MW in three areas, including the state of Sonora, and operating of the plants for 35 years, which is expected to earn 280 billion won in cumulative revenue.

In his commemorative speech, KEPCO President Kim said, “The project takes on significance as it is KEPCO’s first photovoltaic power plant project and the largest new and renewable energy project, to be implemented in Central and South America, and I’m confident that it will contribute to achieving a vision of a ‘mega shift’ into new and renewable energies the Mexican government is pushing ahead with.“

During his talks with the Mexican energy vice minister and Mexico’s federal power corporation chairman, KEPCO President Kim said he was confident that KEPCO will contribute to the Mexican government’s efforts related to the de-carbonation and its response to climate change through the implementation of not only the renewable energy project but also gas-fired combined cycle power projects.

He proposed that KEPCO and Mexico make joint efforts to open a “smart energy era” through digitalization of Mexico’s power facilities and energy efficiency improvement projects by making the most of KEPCO’s world top-level technologies.

The 433MW, Norte II Gas Complex Thermal Power Plant (433MW), dedicated by KEPCO in Mexico in December 2013, is in commercial operation. With the launch of the renewable power, KEPCO has established itself as a major Mexican private power generation operator in Mexico.

With the dedication of the 89.1MW Fujeij Wind Power Farm in Jordan and the launch of the photovoltaic power project this time, KEPCO is expanding its business territory as a global private new/renewal power generator by complying with new/renewal energy expansion policies in accordance with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

KEPCO Works on Energy Efficiency Project

KEPCO signed an MOU on cooperation in energy efficiency projects with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam (MOIT) in Hanoi on Nov. 18.

The agreement was struck by Director Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam Giang of Department of Energy Conservation and Sustainable Development at the MOIT and KEPCO Deputy General Director Lee Jong–hwan.

The two sides agreed to collaborate in the local verification and technology cooperation like the buildup of the K-SEMS, a model of energy management system in building.

At the signing ceremony, KEPCO Deputy General Director Lee said the building of the K-SEMS is expected to enable Vietnam to ensure a stable power demand management through energy conservation.

He said KEPCO will cooperate in the improving of energy efficiency in Vietnam and he also expressed hope the project will serve as roles to expand bilateral exchanges between the two countries.

MOIT Officials said the power shortage is getting worse as power demand has been outpacing supply thanks to an annual average economic growth of more than 7 percent. Average electricity charges have grown 8.36 percent compared to the previous year.

In a related development, KEPCO signed a licensing agreement on the K-SEMS with three Korean companies in Hanoi, including Sang-A Frontec and Gu Vina, and signed an MOU to supply the K-SEMS with Korean operations in Hanoi — Great Human Software and K-Biz Federation.