History

Since the "Asia Super Grid" concept was unveiled in September 2011, Renewable Energy Institute has engaged in a variety of activities to promote the initiative.

The History of Asia Super Grid Concept

September 2011

Chairperson Masayoshi Son proposed “Asia Super Grid Concept”

Asia Super Grid Concept was proposed by Founder and Chairperson of Renewable Energy Institute Masayoshi Son at the inaugurating ceremony to commemorate the establishment of the Institute on 12 September 2011.

For the purpose of enhancing debates over the concept, Renewable Energy Institute held international conferences in March 2012 and September 2012, in which Masayoshi Son, together with experts from all over the world, conducted lectures and panel discussions regarding the possibilities and challenges towards the realization of Asia Super Grid.

January 2014

Report on Asia Super Grid and international symposium

Renewable Energy Institute has conducted research on Asia Super Grid in cooperation with international partners including the Energy Charter Secretariat and the Ministry of Energy of Mongolia. The findings of the research were compiled in the report “Gobitec and Asian Super Grid for Renewable Energies in Northeast Asia” which was released in January 2014.

Associated with the release of the report, the Institute organized an international symposium “Roadmap to Asia Super Grid” joined by speakers from national and local governments, research institutes, and businesses of Russia, Mongolia, South Korea and Japan.

March 2016

Establishment of "Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO)" aiming to realize international grid connection

In March 2016, an international non-profit organization “Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization, GEIDCO,” was established with the initiative of the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), aiming to realize global transmission interconnections for the cross boarder usage of renewable energy. Renewable Energy Institute joined as one of its council members.

“Global Energy Interconnection” is the global version of Asia Super Grid Concept, aiming for greater usage of renewable energy at the global scale. GEIDCO consists of power companies, universities and research institutes, as well as international companies in the field of grid operation.

Liu Zhenya, Chairman of State Grid Corporation of China, was elected as the President, and Masayoshi Son, Founder and Chairman of Renewable Energy Institute and Chairman & CEO of Softbank Group, was elected as Vice-President, together with Steven Chu, former Secretary of Energy of the United States.

September 2016

Top leaders of the power industry in China, Russia and South Korea joined the Institute’s 5th anniversary symposium

On 9 September 2016, at the symposium to commemorate the 5th anniversary of Renewable Energy Institute, Masayoshi Son, together with power industry leaders from China, Russia and South Korea, were invited to present and discuss their ideas for realizing “Energy transition towards de-carbonization of Asia.”

Masayoshi Son elaborated his vision of the "Asia Super Grid" concept which was proposed in September 2011, and talked about the developments to date. Liu Zhenya, Chairman of Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) and Hwan-Eik Cho from Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) shared their ideas of international power grids that would connect Asia to the World.

Michael Liebreich from Bloomberg New Energy Finance also gave a presentation in the same session, followed by a panel discussion joined by Oleg Budargin from the Russian grid operator Rosseti, and Amory B. Lovins from Rocky Mountain Institute.

April 2017

Asia International Grid Connection Study Group Interim Report

In July 2016, the Asia International Grid Connection Study Group was formed, consisting of researchers on power grids and energy policies, experts on renewable energy, and related businesses. The Secretariat is undertaken by Renewable Energy Institute.

In April 2017, the “Interim Report” was released by the study group.

May 2017

International symposium “Future of Power Business with Interconnections in Asia”

Renewable Energy Institute hosted the international symposium “Future of Power Business with Interconnections in Asia.” With the goal of fostering a lively debate on the development of international grid connection in Northeast Asia, this symposium featured the findings that the Asia International Grid Connection Study Group has investigated, including the background and reasons for grid interconnection overseas, new trends in the transmission business abroad, the potential in the Northeast Asia and challenges of the electricity system reform currently conducted in Japan.

September 2017

Overseas research trip to North America

Renewable Energy Institute conducted a research trip to the United States of America and Canada to observe the grid interconnections between the two countries.

October 2017

International conference in Seoul "Asia Super Grid ― from concept to reality for North East Asia"

Renewable Energy Institute, in collaboration with the Asia Development Bank (ADB), Korea Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation, Korea Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Research Institute on Energy, held the international conference “Asia Super Grid ― from concept to reality for North East Asia.”

South Korea has announced a major paradigm shift in energy policy to renewables, and President Moon Jae-in has proposed the northeastern Asian countries to begin discussions to establish “Northeast Asia Super Grid.” More than ever, there are increased needs for interconnectors in Asian countries. Experts and stakeholders were invited and provided the opportunity to discuss and share benefits and challenges towards the development of ASG.

June 2018

Asia International Grid Connection Study Group Second Report

The Asia International Grid Connection Study Group released the “Second Report.”

Following the interim report, the study has further examined specific route designs and investment cost and revenue calculations for grid interconnections between Japan and South Korea, and between Japan and Russia. The report is the first of its kind to publish such estimations in Japan.

July 2018

Symposium “Towards the Realization of International Grid Interconnections in Japan”

Following the release of the "Asia International Grid Connection Study Group Second Report,” Renewable Energy Institute hosted a symposium that discussed the significance of the international grid interconnection in Japan and prospects for realization.

October 2018

Overseas research trip to Europe

Renewable Energy Institute conducted a research trip to the United Kingdom and Spain to observe the policies related to renewable energy integration and grid interconnections with their neighboring countries.

July 2019

Asia International Grid Connection Study Group Third Report

The Asia International Grid Connection Study Group released the “Third Report.”

This report, which compiles findings in the third term, analyzed in detail the socioeconomic benefits of international grids and studied the various energy security-related issues involved in international grid connections.

July 2019

2019 FUTURE CONSENSUS DIALOGUE

For 2 days on 31 July and 1 August 2019, Future Consensus Institute (Yeosijae), Renewable Energy Institute, and the Society of Security and Diplomatic Policy Studies (SSDP) hosted the “2019 FUTURE CONSENSUS DIALOGUE.” In this dialogue, political issues and possible cooperation in energy and finance sectors in Northeast Asia were discussed.

October 2019

North-East Asia Regional Power Interconnection and Cooperation Forum 2019

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific (UNESCAP), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Asia Development Bank (ADB) organized, with the support of the Korea Energy Agency, East Asia Regional Power Interconnection and Cooperation Forum 2019 in Seoul, South Korea. This forum highlighted sharing the recent progress and experiences related to the power interconnection in the region and the future perspective of international cooperation. Renewable Energy Institute contributed to the discussion as a lecturer and panelist.

November 2019

International conference “Renewables in an Interconnected Energy System”

Following the release of the Third Report, Renewable Energy Institute hosted an international conference “Renewables in an Interconnected Energy System.”

Through the discussions with overseas experts from China, Germany, South Korea, and the United States, the conference highlighted the expanding trend of renewables in East Asian countries and sought opportunities to integrate those countries with advanced transmission systems.

External Links

  • JCI 気候変動イニシアティブ
  • 自然エネルギー協議会
  • 指定都市 自然エネルギー協議会
  • irelp
  • 全球能源互联网发展合作组织

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