The Heart of Renewable Energy - ESS and Electric Vehicles

Renewable energy has become an integral part of our daily lives. You can see small solar panels installed on rooftops of buildings and, when driving on highways, you may come across vast solar farms spread across hillsides. Near the seaside, you might notice tall wind turbines reaching towards the sky.

As the name suggests, renewable energy generation uses natural resources such as sunlight and wind to produce electricity. Even for those unfamiliar with how it works, it naturally feels like a clean and economical solution. In fact, once renewable energy facilities are installed, they require minimal additional generation costs and have very little environmental impact.

This sounds ideal — environmentally friendly electricity at a low cost. It seems like everyone should be using it, right? But are you, personally, using renewable energy? Are businesses using it extensively? While some individuals and companies do, most still do not.

Why is that? If renewable energy is so beneficial, why don’t we simply install enough to power the entire nation? The answer lies in one critical issue: uncertainty.

The Nature of Electricity and the Limits of Renewable Energy

Electricity has a unique characteristic — it is difficult to store and must be consumed at the exact moment it is produced. When you flip a light switch, the bulb lights up instantly. This means electricity is continuously generated, transmitted, and used in real time.

For a stable grid, production and consumption must always be in balance. In Korea, our power grid operates at a standard frequency of 60Hz — which is where our company name, 60Hertz, comes from.

• If production exceeds consumption, the frequency rises and can damage electrical equipment.

• If production falls short of consumption, blackouts may occur.
  
  

To maintain this delicate balance, KPX (Korea Power Exchange) constantly monitors and stabilizes the grid.


The Challenge with Renewable Energy

Renewable energy production depends entirely on nature.

• On cloudy days, solar power generation drops sharply.

• When there’s no wind, wind turbines cannot produce power.

• Conversely, on sunny or windy days, generation can surge unexpectedly.
  
  

This variability makes it difficult to rely solely on renewable energy, even at a single household level.

For example:

• Summer evenings: Air conditioning drives demand up around 6 PM, but solar generation decreases as the sun sets. This mismatch can cause supply shortages.

• Midday in spring: When consumption is low but solar generation is high, excess energy can overflow into the grid, potentially causing instability.
  
  

When renewable energy sources are scaled up and connected to the national grid, these fluctuations can become a serious risk to grid stability. This inherent intermittency and unpredictability is the biggest hurdle for renewable energy adoption.


ESS: The Heart of Renewable Energy

So, how do we overcome this challenge? The answer lies in ESS (Energy Storage System) — essentially a giant battery.

Just like charging your phone and using it later, an ESS stores electricity when supply is high and releases it when demand is high.

Example scenario:

• Noon on a summer day: Solar generation peaks while most people are away from home, so demand is low. The ESS stores the surplus electricity.

• Evening: People return home, turn on appliances, and demand spikes — just as solar generation drops. The ESS then discharges stored energy to meet demand.
  
  

ESS acts like the heart of a renewable energy system, pumping energy where it’s needed, when it’s needed. It smooths out fluctuations, making renewable power reliable and stable.


60Hertz: The Brain of Renewable Energy

While ESS plays a vital role, it is, at its core, just a battery — it charges and discharges.
This is where 60Hertz steps in as the "brain" of renewable energy.

We develop software that intelligently controls ESS to maximize efficiency and stability.
Our platform doesn’t just turn charging on and off — it makes data-driven decisions in real time.

Key Capabilities

• Storing Surplus Renewable Energy

  • We predict solar generation and household consumption.

  • Surplus energy is automatically stored in the ESS for later use.

  • This enables flexible, optimized renewable energy utilization.

• Time-of-Use Cost Optimization

  • In Korea, electricity rates vary by time of day (off-peak, mid-peak, peak).

  • Our algorithms charge ESS during cheaper off-peak hours and discharge during expensive peak hours.

  • When solar energy alone isn’t sufficient, the system can purchase extra power from the grid at off-peak prices to charge efficiently.

• Demand Response (DR) Participation

  • KPX sends signals to adjust electricity usage:

    • Reduce consumption when the grid is under strain (DR).

    • Increase consumption when there’s excess supply (Plus DR).

  • ESS is ideal for responding to these signals.
    
    

Our software enables seamless participation, providing financial incentives for users while supporting grid stability.


Electric Vehicles: Moving ESS Units

Why mention electric vehicles (EVs)? Because an EV is essentially a mobile ESS.

• EVs store large amounts of energy in their batteries.

• They can charge from the grid or discharge to the grid — a technology known as V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid).

• Many EVs already support V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) for powering external devices like camping gear or emergency equipment.
  
  

Unlike traditional ESS units, which are expensive and stationary, EVs are already widely available and distributed.

At 60Hertz, we are developing software that turns EVs into flexible, grid-connected energy resources, empowering individuals to participate in renewable energy ecosystems.

We believe EV owners will play a key role in grid stabilization and renewable energy adoption in the near future.


Building the Future Together

At 60Hertz, we are creating software solutions that seamlessly integrate renewable energy into daily life.

Our mission:

• Analyze the energy market and renewable ecosystem.

• Develop algorithms that adapt to complex conditions.

• Deliver intuitive, user-friendly services with clear visualizations.
  
  

If you are passionate about renewable energy, V2G technology, or want to help build the future of sustainable power, we invite you to follow our journey — and even join our team as a software engineer.

Together, we can transform the way the world generates, stores, and uses energy.


By Kyungmin Bang ㅣ TVPP/FE Leader ㅣ 60Hertz




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