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IBM Continues to Advance Smart Grid Developments in Korea

In conjunction with the semi-annual Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition (GIUNC) meeting, IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced its collaboration with Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO), on the building of the Total Operations Center at the Jeju Smart Grid Test-Bed Demonstration Complex. The center will allow the 160 companies and 11 consortia members operating at the Jeju Complex to collect and manage information on all international markets, and monitor smart grid systems and data exchange.

The Total Operations Center is an addition to Korea's Jeju Smart Grid Test-Bed project, the world's largest smart grid community established for smart grid research and testing. As part of the project development, KEPCO has leveraged the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Common Infrastructure Model (IEC CIM), a comprehensive and integrated management model that can be utilized by energy and utility companies worldwide during smart grid transformations.

"Operating the smart grid involves implementing a flexible management strategy that takes into consideration the various application standards, development speeds and requirements of that particular region," said Park Jong-man, Deputy General Manager at the integrated control center of KEPCO's Jeju Demonstration Complex. "This collaboration with IBM allows KEPCO to create a model based on international standards, such as CIM that can be used to infuse intelligence into any smart grid infrastructure."

IBM provided consulting services and software to develop an integrated energy management system for the Total Operations Center. As part of the collaboration, IBM helped design guidelines for IEC CIM, creating an open standard for information exchange and management across the demonstration complex. This international information standards model is the most commonly used management model by energy and utilities organizations worldwide.

"This collaboration with KEPCO will not only improve operational efficiencies at the complex but will also help drive the development of international standard technologies in the Korean smart grid market – allowing domestic businesses to operate and compete at an international level," said Guido Bartels, General Manager, Energy and Utilities industry at IBM and Chairman, Global Smart Grid Federation. "IBM's continued work with KEPCO demonstrates a host of new opportunities and initiatives that will provide a new level of insight for organizations not only in the GIUNC, but around the world."

The Total Operations Center will integrate Rational Software Architect (RSA), an offering within the IBM Solution Architecture for Energy and Utilities (SAFE) framework, to create a service-oriented architecture for the Jeju Test-Bed. In using this solution, KEPCO can implement a standards-based system that incorporates existing applications, data services and hardware from participating members of the project. This will help build a flexible test-bed that enables data management and reporting for all of the systems and processes being tested.

Since joining the GIUNC in February, 2011, KEPCO has been working alongside other Coalition members to further the adoption of smarter energy grids around the world. The Jeju Smart Grid Demonstration Test-Bed project builds upon the Korean Government's Smart Grid Strategy which focuses on greater energy security, sustained economic growth, and reduced environmental impact, by bringing together smart technologies across the areas of generation, power grid, electrical service, buildings and transportation.

Through the Total Operations Center, KEPCO will continue developing international energy service models such as dynamic pricing. Additionally, the 160 Korean companies and 11 consortia members of the KEPCO demonstration project can now leverage verified message and international standards guidelines and apply their results using this secure infrastructure.

IBM is helping to lead Korea's smart grid transformation, contributing to the Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy's smart grid roadmap, and assisting in developing the strategic plan for the Jeju Demonstration Complex, alongside KEPCO and KEPCO-KDN. Additionally, IBM developed jointly with POSCO ICT, the country's first integrated management system (EMS, energy management system) for renewable energy. IBM Korea is also a board member of the Korea Smart Grid Association.