East Asian power grid: beyond interconnection toward an 'Energy Island'

Power-grid interconnection across East Asia is more than a technical project — it is a strategic instrument for advancing energy security and climate goals simultaneously. PLANiT extends East Asian grid interconnection into the "Energy Island" concept.

The Energy Island Concept

An "Energy Island" envisages East Asian countries generating electricity at sites with abundant renewable potential — Mongolia, the Gobi Desert, offshore wind in the East Sea — and sharing it among regional partners.

Benefits of East Asian Interconnection

Technical benefits:

• Mitigation of renewable variability via geographic diversification
• Cross-border balancing of supply and demand
• Stronger system stability

Economic benefits:

• Lower generation costs by tapping the lowest-cost source available
• Stronger investment incentives for renewables
• Energy security through diversified supply

Challenges and Barriers

Realising East Asian interconnection requires overcoming:

• Political and geopolitical tension — complexity of Korea–China–Japan relations
• Technical-standard differences — frequency and voltage harmonisation
• Regulatory harmonisation — integrated power-market design
• Massive infrastructure investment — submarine cables and converter stations

Korea's Opportunity

Korea is geographically positioned to act as a hub of an East Asian power network. Through active engagement and a leading role, Korea can pursue both energy security and carbon neutrality at once.