Korean Energy Leaders Explore Oak Park

Leaders with the Korea Smart Grid Institute were in Oak Park recently, exploring the village as a test ground for energy innovations.

Sustainability manager K.C. Poulos said they're hoping to demonstrate two major projects here. One is a residential solar-charged battery system allowing a home to function off the electric grid.

The other project would be commercial. Poulos said the Smart Grid Institute (SGI) is interested in creating devices that "help monitor and automate a building's energy use more efficiently."

Both groups have also expressed interest in creating a solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations.

Representatives from SGI and the village of Oak Park gathered at on Thursday to oversee a "letter of intent" signing ceremony, with both groups pledging to continue their talks. 

Those discussions have stretched back at least two years, and progress has been slow. Village officials said it will be about three months before officials even define the scope of the work.

"There are cultural difference in how we communicate, Poulos said. "There's a lot of back and forth. There's a great deal of respect but there is a cultural gap and it takes time."