WTC Seoul (WTCS, CEO: Byeong-yoo Kim) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, 30 July at COEX in Seoul to install a aquathermal energy facility designed for the Trade Tower and its adjacent buildings.
This facility was decided to be installed in the Trade Tower to add a new alternative energy production facility in line with a) skyrocketing energy demand and energy costs triggered by climate change and b) the government's requirement to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix. The facility to be newly installed will feed renewable energy to the Trade Tower, COEX and the ASEM Tower. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by KITA Chairman Jin-Sik Yoon, K-water CEO Seok-dae Yoon, WTSC CEO Byeong-yoo Kim and COEX CEO Sang-hyeon Cho.
Aquathermal energy is garnering attention as a source of renewable energy that can achieve efficient heating and airconditioning by utilising the properties of water - cooler than air temperature during summer, whereas warmer than outdoor air temperature during winter. This renewable energy does not require cooling towers nor compressors, which are the main culprits of fire hazards, noise pollution and urban heat island effect. It also offers another merit that aquathermal energy can be easily harnessed and supplied as existing intercity water pipes are used a source of energy.
Chairman Yoon mentioned in his congratulatory remarks, "The introduction of an aquathermal energy facility will serve as an important turning point of upgrading the Trade Tower and its adjacent buildings as an environmentally-friendly complex that can achieve higher energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions at the same time".
CEO Byeong-yoo Kim from WTSC - the key entity responsible for managing the project to install the new renewable energy facility - mentioned, "We will not spare efforts to pay close attention for visitors and tourists by ensuring all existing facilities are operated without disruption during the period of implementing this ambitious project".