As the renewable energy market experiences explosive growth, the paradigm of electrical safety management is rapidly changing. President Lee Jae-myung declared that "the fastest power supply comes from solar and wind energy," and in line with this, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has increased the energy business budget by 43% from the previous year to KRW 1.2703 trillion. With policies such as the mandatory installation of solar facilities in parking lots with more than 80 spaces starting in November, the technological advancement of the entire related industry ecosystem has emerged as an urgent task.

In particular, there is a growing call to transition the electrical safety inspection system, which has been manpower-centric for 50 years since 1974, to a digital, continuous, and remote inspection system. Amid this trend, an energy company based in Jeju has not only succeeded in domesticating core measuring equipment but has also further developed the technology, drawing attention from the industry.

Development of Remote Polarization Index Measurement Technology

Founded in Jeju in 2004, ETUZI Co., Ltd. (CEO Song Ki-taek) recently announced its success in developing technology that can remotely measure the Polarization Index (PI) for each string and calculate changes in insulation resistance over time and voltage. This achievement overcomes the limitations of relying on expensive foreign measuring devices for precise diagnosis of solar power generation equipment, advancing the technology beyond mere domestication.

The Polarization Index is a key indicator for evaluating the degradation state of insulation materials. By comparing the ratio of insulation resistance values at 1 minute and 10 minutes after applying constant voltage, it assesses contamination, moisture absorption, and aging. When voltage is applied, current initially flows due to internal free charges or moisture, but over time, as the material ages, the current decreases and insulation resistance increases. If resistance values remain constant over time, it is likely that degradation is occurring due to internal moisture or contamination.

Existing measuring devices only confirmed insulation resistance momentarily, making it difficult to accurately determine the degradation progress of solar power facilities with a lifespan of over 20 years. ETUZI's technological innovation allows for much more precise diagnosis of insulation characteristics and includes functions to calculate changes in insulation resistance over time and voltage, achieving performance one step ahead of foreign devices. The ability to calculate changes in insulation resistance over time and voltage serves as an indicator for diagnosing insulation characteristics that cannot be assessed by the Polarization Index alone, marking an innovation beyond the domestication of foreign measuring devices.

The transition to a remote inspection system in the electrical safety field is a matter of life and death, beyond mere efficiency. The amendment to the Electrical Safety Management Act, announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in 2021, specifies a shift from a labor-intensive inspection system to a digital-based, continuous, and non-face-to-face system. However, despite the establishment of the system, its slow adoption in the field has led to ongoing accidents, such as the recent electric shock accident at a Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) photovoltaic site and the fire at a Seogwipo solar power facility.

CEO Song emphasized, "If the remote inspection system is properly operated, it can not only reduce business costs but also effectively prevent electrical disasters such as leakage, electric shock, and fire," adding, "By integrating new technologies from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as big data and artificial intelligence, it is possible to create new energy-related businesses."

20 Years of Technology... One-Stop Solution from Licensing to Construction

ETUZI has been dedicated to continuous technology development with the meaning of 'taking responsibility from the beginning to the end of energy.' The company holds 36 domestic patents, 2 overseas patents, and 28 certifications, including remote monitoring devices for solar modules, and was designated as an excellent procurement product in the solar power generation system field in 2014 and 2020. In 2020, its energy storage system (ESS) also joined the ranks of excellent procurement products.

Last year, ETUZI set a new milestone in the industry by completing the construction of the nation's first distribution network-linked ESS power plant. This plant, built in Seogwipo, Jeju, with a capacity of 6.3 MWh, operates the power grid by linking renewable energy, ESS, and the local distribution network, presenting a new business model that participates in the real-time market. It has shown tangible results by avoiding overgeneration penalties, responding to winter night loads, and easing output control.

ETUZI is positioning itself at the forefront of these changes as a total solution company encompassing everything from licensing to design, construction, and control technology.

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