Existing AC Current Requires Internal DC Conversion, Resulting in 5~15% Power Loss

LG Electronics is joining forces with Korea Electric Power Corporation to lead development of DC (Direct Current) appliances that can be used without power loss in DC distribution systems, actively responding to the era of eco-friendly energy.

LG Electronics and Korea Electric Power Corporation signed a business agreement for "DC Power Supply and DC Appliance Commercialization Cooperation" at LG Electronics' Changwon R&D Center in Changwon, Gyeongnam, with attendance from Korea Electric Power Corporation Vice President Kim Si-ho and LG Electronics H&A Business Division President Song Dae-hyun, among others.

Under the agreement, LG Electronics will become the first in Korea to develop DC-type appliances that can be used in the DC power supply system being built by Korea Electric Power Corporation.

All appliances currently sold in the market are optimized for AC (Alternating Current) methods. To use AC-type appliances in a DC distribution environment, a power conversion process that converts DC to AC is necessary, making power loss inevitable. Additionally, since inverter motors and compressors, which are key components of appliances, use DC current, the AC current entering the appliance must be converted back to DC inside the product, resulting in a total of 5~15% power loss. However, DC appliances developed by LG Electronics do not require such power conversion processes, resulting in higher energy efficiency.

Through this agreement, LG Electronics and Korea Electric Power Corporation will continuously collaborate on technical standardization and commercialization in DC power supply systems and DC appliance fields, and will also jointly develop new services and business models based on DC.

Additionally, both companies plan to actively share the technological capabilities and infrastructure each possesses for DC appliance research and development. They also plan to establish a "DC Home" exhibition showcasing DC distribution and DC appliance products.

LG Electronics anticipates that demand for DC appliances will grow as DC power supply systems become more widely deployed in the future. The company also believes that this partnership will further strengthen its image as a market leader in the appliance industry.

DC power supply systems are gaining attention as next-generation solutions in the energy business field, where improving the efficiency of power utilization is essential. This is because DC transmission and distribution result in less power loss over long distances compared to AC methods.

Additionally, solar power generation systems, which have been rapidly increasing in recent years, also operate on DC methods. To use existing AC-type appliances with electricity generated from solar power, the DC power generated by the solar panels must first be converted to AC before being sent to the appliances, inevitably resulting in power loss. However, with DC appliances developed by LG Electronics, DC power can be sent directly to appliances without conversion processes, increasing energy efficiency.

Currently, electrical facilities in most countries use AC methods, but the trend is gradually increasing toward building power generation, transmission, and distribution systems entirely on DC methods. Korea Electric Power Corporation began DC distribution technology development in 2010 and plans to start DC power supply domestically from 2020 onwards.

Korea Electric Power Corporation Vice President Kim Si-ho stated, "Korea Electric Power's low-voltage DC supply technology is entering the commercialization phase, and through LG Electronics' DC appliance development, we can see that DC power supply can become a reality. We hope that this agreement will serve as an opportunity for a vibrant DC ecosystem to be established."