An unusual group of partners from the Republic of Korea and Hawaii are conducting microgrid research at a saltwater pumping facility in Hawaii, with a goal of using artificial intelligence (AI) to help boost the efficiency of the existing power system by 30% when it is off-grid because of utility outages.
Pump station photo courtesy NELHA
The project, expected to be completed by mid-2022, will benefit both Hawaii and the Republic of Korea through the development of green energy technologies. Two million dollars in funding comes from the Korea Energy Technology, Evaluation and Planning Institute (KETEP), which funds international cooperation and testing of Korean technology in foreign locations.