[Teheran-ro] Finding Solutions to the Energy Crisis in Science and Technology

On my way home last weekend, I suddenly found myself stuck in an unexpected traffic jam. It was a road that was usually not crowded with cars, so it felt strange. Looking more closely, I realized it was because of the vehicles trying to enter a gas station. The line of cars waiting to refuel stretched out onto the road and became entangled with passing traffic, causing the gridlock.
I wondered, "How cheap must the fuel be for there to be this many cars?" and "How much cheaper can it really be in Seoul?" As I changed lanes and drove past, I glanced at the price sign. The gasoline price was just over 1,800 won per liter.
I remembered that just a week earlier I had filled up on the outskirts of the metropolitan area at around 1,850 won. No wonder the road was packed. I went home thinking that I should refuel at this station next time.
This is one of the scenes created by the situation in the Middle East.
At a recent reporter study session organized by the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST) for government-funded research institutes under the Ministry of Science and ICT, energy supply and demand was clearly the hottest topic. Participants showed strong interest in a wide range of areas, from green energy such as solar power and hydrogen, to technologies for securing electricity and low-carbon solutions.
The government-funded institutes that took part introduced a number of energy-related technologies that are still unfamiliar to the general public. One of them was a technology that turns carbon dioxide into a resource. It separates hydrogen from carbon dioxide and then uses it as a resource, and the key challenge is to do this with high precision while making it economically viable. Another technology focused on power supply and demand. Using an artificial intelligence (AI) Energy Management System (EMS), AI would be used to manage energy. This, they explained, could resolve imbalances in power supply and demand, and they are aiming to complete development within the year. They also presented research on building data centers in space. If data centers are located in space, they said, issues related to power and heat can be addressed, making operations more efficient. Various institutes are collaborating on this research. In addition, they reported ongoing work on commercializing solar cells and developing hydrogen batteries.
Even to a reporter rather than a scientist, these ideas sounded compelling. They seemed like potential alternatives in an energy crisis like the one we face now. Some of the projects, in particular, were said to be ready for real-world application within this year. Of course, most of them will still require long-term research.
On the 6th, during an economic policy Q&A session at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, lawmakers continued to debate the supplementary budget. From the 7th, the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts is also holding comprehensive policy inquiries. Such scenes are familiar in times of crisis. What is unclear, however, is whether we are truly prepared before a crisis hits, especially when it comes to technology research for alternative energy. It is time to ask whether we are considering supplementary budgets and spending not just for "putting out fires" in the short term, but for fundamental, long-term solutions.
jiany@fnnews.com Reporter