As Korea is famous for K-Pop and K-Drama worldwide, the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), under the leadership of President Yi Chang-keun, has initiated the ‘K-Energy’ project to share its energy technologies globally.

The KIER held an accompanying session to introduce ‘Asia-Pacific Super Energy Highway’ for two days from Dec. 10 (Sunday) to 11 (Monday), 2023 at Dubai, Arab Emirates during the COP28. Throughout the session, the KIER discussed with Cambodia, Thailand, and the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) about adopting energy technologies developed by the KIER in their respective countries and regions.

The "Asia-Pacific Super Energy Highway" is a plan to construct a highly interconnected energy network spanning across Australia, Thailand, Mongolia, China, and Japan, utilizing ships, pipelines, and cables. Through the accompanying event of the COP28 held on Dec. 10 (Monday), the KIER shared information and status of those countries’ energy surplus and storage infrastructure and presented ways to address steeply increasing energy demands.

Through the accompanying event hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Republic of Korea, President Yi Chang-keun of the KIER presented the concept of ‘Asia-Pacific Super Energy Highway.’ Dr. Jeong-hyub Lee from the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness, Thailand proposed a partnership between the Republic of Korea and Thailand for CCUS and Hydrogen. In a consecutive panel discussion, experts from Saudi Arabia, Japan, and the CTCN passionately discussed problems to address and practical ways to take action.

At a meeting between the Republic of Korea and Cambodia among the meetings held in Dec. 10 (Sunday), ways to adopt KIER’s technologies to Cambodia were discussed. These technologies include bio-energy from fossil fuels and the recycling of waste from solar cells. In a multilateral meeting on Dec. 11 involving the KIER, Thailand, and the CTCN, the technology to convert CO2 to methanol using catalysts, which is needed by the Thai cement industry, was discussed for international research project planning and technology transfer. This marks a step closer to the export of K-Energy technology.

The KIER also took part in the "Korea-Thailand CCUS and Hydrogen Technology Workshop" held in Bangkok, Thailand in Dec. 6 (Wed) to Dec. 7 (Thurs). Through the workshop, discussion was made on how to cooperate on the areas of  CCUS and hydrogen technology between the two countries. Influential experts and researchers from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and  Innovation of Thailand, the Ministry of Energy of Thailand, the National Research Council of Science and Technology, the KEPRI, and POSCO, from the Republic of Korea, participated in the event. The KIER also participated in the '2nd Korea-Oman Green Hydrogen Strategic Forum' on Dec. 12 to showcase the key features of KIER's hydrogen technology and to establish partnerships on a global scale.

President Yi Chang-keun of the KIER said that cooperation and innovation are key to addressing global challenges at the COP28 meetings. He also expressed his commitment to making strenuous efforts to collaborate with countries that have strong demands for energy technologies. The transfer of those technologies to them will lead to the establishment of new energy markets and elevate the national status globally.