What Korea Smart Grid Institute does

Korea Smart Grid Institute (한국스마트그리드사업단, KSGI) is a quasi-governmental public research organization established under South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, originating as a Power IT task force in 2005 and formally founded as KSGI in August 2009. Designated under the Intelligent Electric Power Network Act, KSGI operates as Korea's principal smart grid industry promotion organization, coordinating national AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), ESS (Energy Storage Systems), EMS (Energy Management Systems), and distributed energy deployment programs. It also holds the country's seat as Joint Co-Secretariat of the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN), an intergovernmental forum under the IEA and Clean Energy Ministerial covering 26 member countries.

KSGI's core technology stack centers on the AMI Big Data Platform (전력 AMI 빅데이터 플랫폼), which aggregates real-time residential electricity, gas, and heat consumption data and exposes it to a 29-institution ecosystem for downstream service development. This platform underpins four major deployment programs: the Home Smart Power Platform for residential energy management, the Integrated Management Center (IMC) for nationwide diffusion project monitoring, the Smart Grid Diffusion Project, and the Convergence System Distribution Project targeting industrial and commercial facilities with contract power over 300kW. Additional offerings include Distributed Energy Activation microgrid demonstrations, the quarterly Business Survey Index (BSI) covering 70-80 industry companies, and multiple R&D programs including AI-based spatial energy prediction and on-device AI energy demand management (212.9 billion KRW Big Data Platform budget 2021-2024). KSGI's product portfolio is supplemented by 11 patent filings and registrations covering AMI customer classification and integrated energy big data platform architecture.

KSGI's business model is publicly funded rather than commercially revenue-generating. Operating revenue flows from managed government subsidy programs (e.g., 50% government subsidy covering AMI deployment under a 1,892 billion KRW total program budget for 2020-2022), R&D project administration, and policy consulting for MOTIE and affiliated agencies. Customer concentration is primarily governmental: the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy as principal policy client, KEPCO as flagship utility partner (Energy Valley microgrid), 70+ surveyed industry companies, and the residential apartment sector (147,744 AMI units deployed). Distribution occurs through government-led deployment programs and international cooperation frameworks rather than direct sales. The organization maintains headquarters in Seoul (Gangnam-gu) and a regional headquarters in Naju (Jeonnam-Gwangju), established August 2022 to drive international cooperation and overseas market entry for domestic energy new-industry companies.

Name

Korea Smart Grid Institute

Legal name

한국스마트그리드사업단 (Korea Smart Grid Institute)

Website

https://smartgrid.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Korea Smart Grid Institute (KSGI) is a quasi-governmental public research organization under South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy that coordinates smart grid industry promotion, AMI deployment, and R&D. It serves as ISGAN Joint Co-Secretariat covering 26 member countries and works with utilities like KEPCO and domestic smart grid companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart Grid Energy Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Head-End Systems (HES) & AMI Network Management (EUADAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

SCADA/DMS/OMS Integration, Upgrades & Managed Services (EUAEANAE), DER & Microgrid Interconnection / Grid Edge Integration Services (EUAEANAF), Community Microgrids & Shared Distributed Generation (EUACALAC)

Keywords

• Smart grid infrastructure
• Energy management systems
• AMI deployment
• Distributed energy solutions
• Grid big data platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul (서울)

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidy Programs: Operates government-funded smart grid deployment programs including AMI deployment (245 million households supported with government subsidies), smart home power platform, and distributed energy projects. Revenue is government-allocated based on policy objectives.
2. R&D Project Management: Manages national R&D projects in smart grid technology development, testing, and demonstration. Coordinates multi-stakeholder research involving government agencies, utilities, and private sector.
3. Policy Research and Consulting: Provides policy research, technical consulting, and industry analysis for government agencies including Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Publishes quarterly Business Survey Index (BSI) for smart grid industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KSGI operates as Korea's primary smart grid industry promotion organization, coordinating national AMI deployment programs targeting millions of households, managing R&D projects in smart grid technology, and operating the AMI Big Data Platform that collects and shares electricity, gas, and heat consumption data. The organization serves as the joint secretariat for ISGAN (International Smart Grid Action Network) with 26 member countries, provides policy research for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and supports deployment of ESS and EMS systems in industrial and commercial facilities.

Product overview

Korea Smart Grid Institute operates as a comprehensive smart grid industry promotion organization offering a unified platform ecosystem. The core offering is the AMI Big Data Platform, which integrates real-time collection and sharing of residential electricity, gas, and heat consumption data. This platform serves as the foundation for the Home Smart Power Platform and the Integrated Management Center (IMC), which monitors and controls nationwide smart grid diffusion projects. The institute manages multiple interconnected programs including the Smart Grid Support Project (AMI/ESS/EMS deployment), Convergence System Distribution Project (industrial/commercial facilities), Smart Grid Diffusion Project (nationwide expansion), and Distributed Energy Activation initiatives (microgrids). Additionally, the institute serves as the ISGAN joint secretariat for international cooperation and publishes quarterly Business Survey Index (BSI) reports for industry monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AMI Big Data Platform (전력 AMI 빅데이터 플랫폼) A platform that collects and shares real-time residential energy usage data (electricity, gas, heat) through Advanced Metering Infrastructure, enabling data-based service development and new business creation for energy consumers and data-using businesses.
• Integrated Management Center (IMC, 통합관리센터) A centralized monitoring and control system that integrates with consortium operators' Total Operation Centers (TOC) to provide real-time metering and operational information monitoring, business performance verification, and joint utilization support for smart grid diffusion projects.
• Home Smart Power Platform (가정용 스마트전력 플랫폼) A platform based on AMI infrastructure that provides real-time electricity usage data and services, enabling households to voluntarily manage and reduce electricity consumption through various energy information management and utilization services.
• Smart Grid Diffusion Project (스마트그리드 확산사업) A nationwide expansion initiative implementing smart grid technologies including AMI, EMS, and energy storage systems in residential, commercial, and industrial settings through cloud-based platforms and integrated management centers. 147,744 AMI units deployed under diffusion projects.
• Smart Grid Support Project (스마트그리드 보급지원사업) Government-subsidized project for deploying AMI meters, Energy Storage Systems (ESS), and Energy Management Systems (EMS) to demonstrate power usage reduction and peak power management through smart grid device and system deployment.
• Convergence System Distribution Project (융합시스템 보급사업) A project that deploys energy-efficient systems combining ESS and EMS technologies in industrial facilities and commercial buildings, supporting energy efficiency improvement and competitiveness enhancement. Targets 7MWh for industrial and 3.5MWh for commercial facilities.
• Distributed Energy Activation (분산에너지 활성화) A microgrid system development and demonstration project targeting tourism and leisure facilities, integrating renewable energy with village-level microgrid systems for sustainable energy supply.
• ISGAN Secretariat (ISGAN 사무국) Korea Smart Grid Institute serves as the joint secretariat for the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN), an intergovernmental smart grid forum under the IEA and CEM, coordinating international cooperation, joint research, and policy knowledge exchange among 26 member countries.
• Business Survey Index (BSI, 기업경기실사지수) A quarterly survey-based economic indicator monitoring the smart grid industry business conditions, measuring comprehensive business judgment, sector performance, and export conditions to support smart grid industry promotion planning. Surveys 70-80 smart grid industry companies quarterly.
• R&D Research and Demonstration Projects (R&D 연구실증사업) Various research and demonstration projects including Grid Flexibility Korean GEB-based technology and business model development, next-generation AC/DC Hybrid distribution network technology, on-device AI energy demand management, and HVDC technology development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29,000 tons CO2 reduction potential from AMI program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• 베트남 감자·채소·화훼 연구센터 (PVFC - Vietnam Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026MOU signed on July 1, 2026 in Da Lat, Vietnam for K-Energy Smart Farm technology cooperation. Part of Regional Innovation Cluster R&D initiative, combining Korean smart grid technology with Vietnamese agriculture. Consortium includes Jeonnam Techno Park, Dream Global, Lsis, and Seochang Electric.
• 한국신재생에너지데이터산업진흥회 (Korea Renewable Energy Data Industry Promotion Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026MOU for carbon neutrality power market response through energy data convergence. Cooperation areas include demand response business model development, carbon emission reduction methodology, data sharing, and R&D collaboration. Linked to on-device AI-based energy demand management project targeting 80MW+ aggregated demand resources.
• 인도네시아대학교 (Universitas Indonesia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025MOA signed during Indonesia Energy Week 2025 for smart grid and energy new industry cooperation. Includes joint workshops, academic exchange, talent development, and international joint research planning. Two-year cooperation period agreed.
• 인도네시아 스마트그리드협회 (PJCI - Indonesian Smart Grid Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025LOI signed during Indonesia Energy Week 2025 for cooperation in power data management and eco-friendly energy integration technology. Includes joint research and local demonstration projects. Part of Indonesia's renewable energy expansion policy.
• 인도네시아 전력산업협회 (APPI - Indonesian Power Industry Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025LOI for cooperation in renewable energy generation and transmission/distribution. Focus on expert workshops, seminars, technical exchange programs, and network building between两国 enterprises.
• 재인도네시아 한인회 (Korean Community Association in Indonesia)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 August 2025LOI signed for building cooperation network with Indonesian Korean community. Aims to support Jeonnam regional companies' market entry into Indonesia through information sharing, network expansion, and exchange programs.
• IMQ Gulf (UAE)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2023MOU for UAE market entry support for Jeonnam-based energy new industry companies. Provides ECAS certification cost reduction, consulting, and certification processing. Signed during 3rd Korea-UAE Energy Week in Dubai. Also includes cooperation with Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ), EmiratesGBC, and KUTC.
• ISGAN (International Smart Grid Action Network) Co-Secretariat - Austria (AIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Joint secretariat with Austria's AIT (Austrian Institute of Technology). ISGAN operates under IEA and CEM with 26 member countries. KSGI has served as secretariat since 2011 with current term through 2028.
• 기업재생에너지재단 (Corporate Renewable Energy Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2023MOU for corporate RE100 fulfillment support and PPA system activation. Cooperates on RE100 committee operations, RE fulfillment environment, PPA system policy, and corporate supply chain energy transition.
• 태국 월드뱅크 (World Bank Bangkok)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023International cooperation during 1st Korea-Thailand Energy Week 2023. World Bank Bangkok supports energy ODA and knowledge/personnel exchange for developing countries in East Asia region including Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia.
• 쭐랑롱꼰대학교 (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Cooperation on power system and smart grid research through joint power technology center with EGAT (Thailand Electricity Authority). Discussion of MVDC technology and RE100 overseas demonstration projects.
• 글로벌에너지연계개발협력기구 (GEIDCO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Discussion of overseas market expansion and energy sector multilateral exchange through GEIDCO, which establishes global energy connection strategies, technical standards, and international exchange platforms.
• 비그림파워 (B.Grimm Power, Thailand)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023MOU for global technology cooperation expansion in energy new industry. B.Grimm Power is a major Thai energy company, cooperation includes technical exchange and business opportunity development.
• 전라남도·나주시 (Jeollanam-do and Naju City)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Mutual cooperation agreement for Energy Valley smart grid industry promotion. Includes policy and technology development, regional energy business planning, national project applications, and corporate support.
• 알제리 SDA, CREDEGsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2014Technology cooperation MOU signed March 2014 for Algerian smart grid development.
• 스위스 취리히연방공대 (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, ETH Zurich)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014MOU for smart grid technology cooperation signed in January 2014.
• 미국 오크파크시 (Oak Park, USA)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2011Technology cooperation MOU signed July 2011 with Oak Park, Illinois for smart grid collaboration.
• 일본 CRIEPI (Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2009MOU for technology cooperation signed November 2009 with Japan's CRIEPI.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Global Smart Energy Federation (GSEF): International peak body for smart energy organizations that awarded KSGI's Energy Valley project in 2025. Comparable as a global convening network for national smart grid promotion agencies, though GSEF is an umbrella rather than a deployer.
• International Energy Agency (IEA): Intergovernmental energy organization under which ISGAN operates. KSGI functions as ISGAN's co-secretariat, making IEA the parent umbrella; comparable in shaping international smart grid policy frameworks rather than deploying technology.

Direct peers

• Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT): Austria's largest non-university research institute and KSGI's joint ISGAN Co-Secretariat partner. Directly comparable as a peer smart grid R&D and policy coordination body linked to ISGAN governance.
• Korea Energy Agency (KEA): Korean government-affiliated energy promotion agency that implements MOTIE energy policies and manages subsidy programs. Direct peer given overlapping mandates in renewable energy deployment, RE100 support, and energy industry promotion within Korea.
• Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER): Government-funded Korean energy research institute conducting R&D on smart grid, energy storage, and distributed energy. Comparable as a quasi-governmental R&D body focused on energy technology demonstration and policy support.

Broad incumbents

• Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): US-based, member-funded R&D organization for the electricity sector conducting smart grid, AMI, and grid modernization research. Comparable as a non-utility R&D/consortium body that convenes industry and develops technical guidance for grid modernization, even though its scope is broader and commercialized differently.
• China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI): State Grid Corporation of China's central research arm covering AMI, smart grid, and ultra-high-voltage transmission. Comparable as a national/institution-level smart grid R&D body, particularly relevant given overlap with AMI deployment and international cooperation.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): US Department of Energy national laboratory leading renewable energy and grid integration R&D. Comparable in mission scope (grid modernization, distributed energy, AMI) and government-funded program management, though with much larger scale and deeper R&D footprint.
• Japan NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization): Japanese quasi-governmental R&D promotion agency that funds smart grid, energy storage, and hydrogen projects. Highly comparable as a government-affiliated coordinator that channels national budgets to private-sector deployers of grid and energy technologies.

Regional players

• Singapore Energy Market Authority (EMA): Singapore's statutory board regulating the electricity and gas industries and promoting smart grid deployment. Comparable as a regional government-affiliated smart grid policy and program coordinator, though operating in a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@isgan207
• Facebookfacebook.com/61550361192316
• Instagraminstagram.com/ksgi_seoul/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korea-smart-grid-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Korea Smart Grid Institute