At the Seminar on Enhancing Competitiveness in District Energy, hosted by the Korea Energy Research Institute on the 17th at AT Center, Dr. Dae-Young Lee of KIST announced ongoing developments to address the high cost and bulkiness of dehumidification cooling systems—key barriers to commercialization.
Dehumidification cooling works by collecting and evaporating air through a desiccant rotor, lowering indoor temperatures. While the system is energy-efficient, the high cost of the rotor makes it twice as expensive as conventional air conditioners and requires more space. To overcome this, Dr. Lee’s team has developed a polymer-based dehumidifying material to replace costly traditional desiccants.
This year, in collaboration with Korea District Heating Corp. and Kiturami Co., Ltd. about 40 hybrid units will be installed as part of a pilot program. The technology is expected to reduce electricity use, ease summer peak-season power demand, and cut household cooling costs by up to 15% compared to conventional air conditioners.
If adopted by one million households, the system could reduce national electricity demand by 8GW, significantly alleviating summer power shortages. By 2013, the technology is targeted for full commercialization, aiming to lower annual cooling operating costs by 50% compared to electric air conditioning while promoting efficient use of waste heat from cogeneration plants.
In addition to domestic applications, the system is seen as an exportable solution for low-latitude regions with high cooling demand, offering both energy efficiency and environmental benefits in line with global market trends.
Meanwhile, at the same seminar, Dr. Seong-Cheol Kim of KEPCO Research Institute projected strong growth for IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle), forecasting a $200 billion global market by 2030, while noting challenges of technology monopolization by a few advanced economies.
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