New energy tech partnership - North Dakota and Korea

By Scout Nelson

On Monday, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum led a delegation to South Korea to strengthen trade and investment ties, focusing particularly on energy innovation.

A key highlight of the trip was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between North Dakota and the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER). This partnership aims to enhance cooperation in energy technology research and development.

South Korea, with a population of nearly 52 million, is an important trade partner for North Dakota, being its second-largest exporter and 17th-largest export market. The MOU emphasizes the mutual interest in energy as a critical component for economic stability and development.

Both North Dakota and South Korea aim to collaborate on key areas such as information sharing, expanding business opportunities, and fostering technological innovation in energy.

"North Dakota is a leader in energy innovation, and this partnership with Korea will enhance our competitiveness by advancing groundbreaking solutions in hydrogen, carbon capture and clean energy – helping us to continue building an all-of-the-approve energy supply network that combines fossil fuels and renewables," said Burgum.

The MOU was signed at KIER's headquarters in Daejeon, with KIER President Chang-Keun Yi, Vice President Seong Ok Han, and Charles Gorecki, CEO of the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) from the University of North Dakota, in attendance.

North Dakota’s geological structure presents a unique opportunity to store large amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to the state’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 through innovative technologies without introducing new regulations.

Carbon capture technology is central to this effort. KIER, on the other hand, is focused on South Korea’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

The MOU marks the beginning of a weeklong trade mission that will involve discussions on energy, manufacturing, and technology, with Burgum scheduled to meet with other key industry leaders later in the week.

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