Korea-U.S. Leading Research Institutes Accelerate Collaboration for Energy Technology Innovation

The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on January 9th to collaborate on key carbon-neutral technologies such as solar energy, hydrogen, and energy storage. The MOU was signed virtually via electronic signatures, with KIER President Chang-Keun Yi and NREL Director Dr. Martin Keller serving as the official signatories.
^{* NREL is a DOE national laboratory focused on the research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, energy system integration, and sustainable transportation. NREL operates facilities like the National Center for Photovoltaics, the National Bioenergy Center, and the National Wind Technology Center.}

KIER and NREL previously signed MOUs in 2000 and 2015, maintaining a close collaborative framework through online and offline workshops. Recognizing the need to establish a more systematic foundation for collaboration to yield tangible research outcomes, the two institutions signed this new MOU.

The agreement aligns with government initiatives to leverage international joint research opportunities highlighted in the Camp David Summit Declaration*. It aims to expand the joint research network with U.S. national laboratories and produce meaningful collaborative results.
^{* Camp David Summit Declaration: Announced on August 18, 2023, during a trilateral summit among the Republic of Korea, the United States, and Japan at Camp David. The summit emphasized comprehensive collaboration in traditional security, economy, science and technology, and global issues to create a better Indo-Pacific and global future.}

Ahead of the MOU, two joint online workshops were held (June and November 2024), with an NREL expert group of 10 researchers, including Bill Tumas, NREL’s Associate Laboratory Director for Materials, Chemical, and Computational Sciences. The workshops introduced each institution’s research domains, identified areas for joint research*, and discussed plans for expanded collaboration.

Key areas of collaboration include:

– Solar photovoltaics (PV) and solar resource assessment

– Codes, standards, and Techno-Economy Analysis (TEA) for sustainable hydrogen energy

– Artificial Intelligence for Distributed Energy Resources (DER) health and optimization

– Energy storage (especially Carnot batteries)

– Bioenergy

– Energy systems integration

Through the MOU, both institutions agreed to identify joint research projects in common areas of interest, hold regular workshops, and foster technical collaboration through expert exchanges.

KIER President Chang-Keun Yi remarked, “This MOU marks a new paradigm in Korea-U.S. energy technology collaboration and serves as a catalyst for securing key drivers of the future energy industry. We will strive to achieve world-class research outcomes by expanding international joint research in carbon neutrality.”

Building on this agreement, the two institutions plan to hold an in-person workshop in the U.S. later this year and initiate joint research planning, strengthening global partnerships.