Environmental Assessment of Smart Grid Station Project Centered on Pilot Project of Korea Electric Power Corporation Building

Increased evidences reveal that the global climate change adversely affect on the environment. Smart grid system is one of the ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity generation sector. Since 2013, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has installed smart grid station in KEPCO office buildings. The goal of this paper is two folds. One is to quantify the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through smart grid stations installed in KEPCO office buildings as a part of pilot project. Among components of smart grid stations, this research focused on the photovoltaic power system (PV) and energy storage system (ESS). The other is to estimate the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when PV is applied on individual houses. Results show that greenhouse gas emissions reduce 5.8~11.3% of the emissions generated through the electricity usage after PV is applied in KEPCO office buildings. The greenhouse gas emissions reduction from ESS is not apparent. When PV of 200~500 W is installed in individual houses, annual greenhouse gas emission reduction in 2016 is expected to be approximately $2.2{\sim}5.4million\;tCO_2-eq$, equivalent to 6~15% of greenhouse gas emissions through the electricity usage in the house hold sector. The saving of annual electricity cost in the individual house through PV of 200 W and 500 W is expected to be 47~179 thous and KRW and 123~451 thousand KRW, respectively. Results analyzed in this study show the environmental effect of the smart grid station. In addition, the results can be further used as guidance in implementing similar projects.