Korea Gridforming

What Korea Gridforming does

Korea Gridforming Co., Ltd. (주식회사 한국그리드포밍) is a South Korean private limited company that spun off from Korea Power Exchange (KPX) in 2021 to commercialize grid-forming (GFM) inverter technology initially researched inside KPX from 2011. The company designs and manufactures GRID-FORMER® Grid-Forming Inverters (available in 110 kVA and 334 kVA models) built on its proprietary K-Inertia® control engine, which autonomously establishes system frequency and voltage to enable stable grid operation under high renewable energy penetration. Its products are compatible with solar PV, supercapacitors, and battery systems and are deployed across stand-alone microgrid and grid-connected configurations. Korea Gridforming also sells the K-EMT® High-Speed Electromagnetic Transient Simulator, a multi-core CPU-based simulation platform for modeling large-scale power systems with renewable resources, and provides P-HILS (Power Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation) engineering services for control validation of power conversion systems. The company is headquartered in Naju-si, Jeollanam-do, with an affiliated research institute in Seoul, and operates with quote-based, multi-year contract pricing.

The business model is B2B enterprise sales targeted at Korean power grid operators, utilities, and renewable energy developers, supported by demonstration, custom design, onsite support, system modeling, and performance tuning services. Revenue streams combine hardware sales (GRID-FORMER® inverters, K-EMT equipment) with professional services (P-HILS engineering). Named customers and deployments include KEPCO's Wanggok Substation (real-grid demonstration), the Jeju Island solar power plant (distribution-grid-connected GFM demonstration since 2023), and the Gwangyang Port Logistics Complex microgrid (islanded solar-wind microgrid operational from April 2025). The company holds ISO 9001 certification, Venture Company Certification, Energy-Specialized Enterprise status, and Innovative Product Designation for K-EMT, and has formal technical-cooperation MOUs with Reactive Technologies (UK, 2024) and TME Systems (Singapore, 2025) for international market expansion. Its leadership team, including CEO Jisung Kang, COO Songjae Lee, and CSO Sanghoon Oh, combines deep KPX/KEPCO operating experience with industrial-scale commercial and R&D backgrounds from SK Innovation.

Name

Korea Gridforming

Legal name

(주)한국그리드포밍

Website

https://k-gfm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Korea Gridforming is a South Korean power-electronics company that designs and manufactures grid-forming inverters, electromagnetic transient simulators, and hardware-in-the-loop engineering services for utilities, grid operators, and renewable energy developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Power Electronics & Grid-Forming Inverters

NAICS

Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing (335311), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Grid-Forming Inverter (GFM) Controls & Firmware (EUAFAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Renewable Power Electronics & Advanced Inverters R&D (SiC/GaN, Grid-Forming, HVDC Converter Tech) (EUAMAOAF), Testing, Certification, HIL/PHIL & Grid-Forming Validation Services (EUAFAIAL), Grid-Scale Power Conversion & Interconnection (PCS, Grid-Tie Inverters, Converter Stations) (IMAGAAAI), Power Electronics for Renewable & Grid-Tied Applications (Solar inverters, wind converters, grid-tie interfaces) (IMAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Grid-forming inverters
• Power electronics hardware
• Electromagnetic transient simulation
• Renewable energy microgrids
• Power hardware-in-the-loop testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Naju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grid-Forming Inverter Sales (GRID-FORMER®): Sale of grid-forming inverters in 110 kVA and 334 kVA capacity range for renewable energy microgrids and grid-connected systems
2. K-EMT Equipment Supply: Supply of high-speed electromagnetic transient simulator equipment for power grid analysis and renewable integration studies
3. P-HILS Engineering Services: Engineering services providing test and validation environment that simulates real grid conditions using P-HILS technology for power conversion systems

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Korea Gridforming develops and manufactures grid-forming (GFM) power inverter hardware and electromagnetic transient simulation equipment for renewable energy integration and grid stability. The company sells its flagship GRID-FORMER® inverters (110-334 kVA) and K-EMT® high-speed electromagnetic transient simulators, complemented by P-HILS engineering services for hardware-in-the-loop testing and validation of power conversion systems. Customers are power grid operators, utilities, and renewable energy developers in South Korea and select international markets.

Product overview

Korea Gridforming offers a portfolio of power electronics hardware products centered on grid-forming inverter technology and electromagnetic transient simulation. The core product line includes GRID-FORMER® Grid-Forming Inverters (110-334 kVA range) with proprietary K-Inertia® control for grid stabilization, and K-EMT® High-Speed Electromagnetic Transient Simulators for power system modeling. These products are complemented by P-HILS Engineering services providing hardware-in-the-loop testing and validation. The company provides end-to-end solutions including custom grid design, onsite support, system modeling, and performance tuning for renewable-integrated networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GRID-FORMER®: Next-generation grid-forming inverter that autonomously establishes system frequency and voltage, equipped with proprietary K-Inertia® control engine.
• K-Inertia®
• K-EMT®

Products and services

• GRID-FORMER® Grid-Forming Inverter Next-generation grid-forming inverter equipped with proprietary K-Inertia® control engine that autonomously establishes system frequency and voltage. Available in 110 kVA and 334 kVA models, compatible with solar PV, supercapacitors, and battery systems. Designed for power grid operators, utilities, and renewable energy developers requiring stable, resilient, and flexible grid operation in networks with high renewable energy penetration.
• K-EMT® High-Speed Electromagnetic Transient Simulator High-performance electromagnetic transient simulation platform leveraging multi-core CPU architecture to accelerate modeling of large-scale power systems with power-electronic resources such as renewable generators. Enables detailed stability and impact assessments for next-generation grid planning. Received Innovation Product Designation Certificate.
• P-HILS Engineering Services Power Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation (P-HILS) engineering services combining Power Amplifier and Real-Time Simulator for hardware-based testing of power conversion systems. Supports controller-level HILS and Power HILS to provide test and validation environments that simulate real grid conditions, enabling precise verification of control performance and system stability for grid-forming inverters and other PCS equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully established independent microgrid powered by solar and wind generation on reclaimed land in April 2025, operating stably
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• TME Systems Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Technical Cooperation MOU signed for international market expansion and technology partnership in the Southeast Asia region.
• Reactive Technologies Ltd. (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Technical Cooperation MOU signed for joint research and business development. Reactive Technologies is a UK-based company specializing in grid stability technologies. Partnership focuses on grid-forming inverter technology cooperation and international market development.
• KEPCO MCS Co., Ltd.majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Business Cooperation MOU with KEPCO MCS Co., Ltd. for engineering services and power system analysis collaboration.
• Energy Valley Enterprise Development InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Demonstration Cooperation MOU for renewable energy demonstration projects and technology validation support.
• Opal-RT (Canada)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Business Cooperation MOU with Canadian company Opal-RT, a leading provider of real-time simulation technology for power systems. Enables integration of simulation platforms with grid-forming solutions.
• Yonsei UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Human Resources Development MOU for talent cultivation, joint research, and academic collaboration in power system technologies.
• Korea Solar Power Business AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Demonstration Cooperation MOU for field testing and validation of grid-forming inverter technology in solar power installations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• LS Electric: Korean power-electronics and electrical equipment manufacturer offering PCS, switchgear, and grid-tied inverter solutions to domestic utilities. Comparable Korean-market peer in PCS and grid-tie hardware, though broader portfolio without specific GFM focus.
• HD Hyundai Electric: Korean manufacturer of transformers, switchgear, and grid equipment serving KEPCO and global utilities. Adjacent peer in the Korean grid-equipment ecosystem that could supply complementary technology to Korea Gridforming's inverter deployments.

Emerging players

• Enphase Energy: U.S. inverter company expanding into commercial and grid-tied storage with IQ8 grid-forming microinverters. Comparable in microgrid and grid-forming inverter technology at smaller distributed scale.
• Reactive Technologies: UK-based grid-stability measurement and grid-forming technology company. Existing MOU partner of Korea Gridforming; overlapping focus on inertial response and grid-forming solutions for renewable-heavy networks.

Broad incumbents

• Tesla (Energy / Megapack): Tesla's Megapack and Powerpack products include grid-forming inverter functionality for utility-scale storage and microgrids. Competes for the same high-renewable-penetration grid-stability use cases Korea Gridforming serves.
• GE Vernova: Provides grid-forming inverter technology within its Grid Solutions portfolio, targeting utility-scale solar, wind, and storage. Competes in the same GFM control and grid-stability space with broader product breadth and global reach.
• Hitachi Energy: Global incumbent offering grid-forming inverters, PCS, and HVDC solutions for utility-scale renewable and BESS integration. Direct overlap with Korea Gridforming's GRID-FORMER® product line and grid-stability focus, but operates at multi-MW scale and broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Sungrow Power Supply: China-headquartered market leader in solar and energy-storage inverters, with grid-forming capabilities for utility-scale and microgrid applications. Direct competitor in grid-tie inverter hardware and broader renewable PCS market.
• SMA Solar Technology: German inverter manufacturer with grid-forming functionality in its Sunny Central and Sunny Island product lines for utility-scale renewable and storage integration. Closely comparable in PCS/power-electronics architecture and target customer base (utilities, IPPs, microgrid developers).

Others

• Opal-RT Technologies: Canadian real-time digital simulator manufacturer whose platform Korea Gridforming integrates with for HILS testing of power electronics. Comparable in the power-system simulation segment (alongside K-EMT) and an existing technology partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Kec_IfbJHHU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/k-gfm

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Korea Gridforming