Invited Seminar with Jong-Pil Lee of KERI: Key Technologies for Future Power Systems in the Era of Carbon Neutrality and AI

Overview

About this event

On October 15, 2026, the Center hosted an expert seminar at Yonsei University featuring Jong-Pil Lee, Director of the Power Conversion System Research Center at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI). The seminar introduced changes in power systems driven by renewable energy deployment and growing AI data center demand, together with power conversion and DC transmission technologies addressing these challenges.

The presentation examined declining system inertia and control interactions associated with increasing inverter-based resources (IBRs), alongside the need for grid infrastructure and flexibility to accommodate renewable generation. It also discussed how rapid AI data center load variations can affect voltage, power flows, oscillations, and power quality, highlighting the importance of system analysis and stability assessment that considers both generation and large-load characteristics.

The power conversion section covered power semiconductor devices, converter circuits, and control technologies supporting distributed energy resource integration and grid services. Topics included smart inverter active and reactive power control, fault ride-through, grid-forming capabilities, and energy storage integration. The seminar also introduced research directions in AI-based condition monitoring, maintenance, and cybersecurity to improve power conversion system reliability.

The session further explored HVDC, MVDC, and hybrid AC/DC networks, outlining converter station design, protection coordination, control and communications, and testing challenges for GW-scale HVDC and multi-terminal DC systems. Particular attention was given to EMT-based dynamic analysis, equipment interaction studies, and testing of bipolar converter transformers and HVDC valves. These topics emphasized the need to assess performance from individual components to the wider grid, helping participants understand technical priorities and opportunities for collaborative research on future power systems.