▲ Park Hee-ju, President of Gwangju Energy Companies Association / CEO of Alfa System Windows & Door

Building an energy hub in Gwangju
The Gwangju Energy Companies Association started its activities in December 2015 and has grown to boast 170 member companies today through active exchanges and cooperation in the three divisions of energy storage, energy conversion and energy utilization. The first division is managed by the Parts Research Institute Gwangju, the second by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology South Jeolla Province, and the third by the Gwangju Techno Park. The association visited the 2016 International Solar Energy Expo Japan and the Hydrogen Fuel Cells Expo Japan, and co-held the Gwangju SWEET 2016 and the Industry-University Forum for New Energy Industry. In May 2017, the association held an open forum on fourth industrial revolution and smart energy. The association president Park Hee-ju said “the open forum served as a momentum to build a network between energy related companies, university departments, public divisions and private organizations.” While forming various cooperation platforms with related public institutes and member companies, the association also is targeting to invite 500 energy companies to the energy valley that might be able to create 30,000 prospective new jobs. “The energy industry is one of the core growth engines of Korea and it requires constant observation, research and development like many advanced countries. This seems very natural considering the impending age of the fourth industrial revolution. And I believe that Gwangju will take part in making contribution to the wave.” While serving as the president of the association, Park is CEO of Alfa System Windows & Door. Since its establishment in 2002, the company has provided highly praiseworthy window and door installation services in the region covering from design to after care services. The company started BIPV solar energy business in 2009 soon followed by the ESS.