Across the globe, governments and energy suppliers are increasingly recognising the advantages of renewable and smart energy systems. However, according to the Korea Energy Agency, as of May 2017, only 6.61% of South Korea’s electricity is generated by renewable energy sources. 6.61% South Korea’s electricty generated by renewable sources Korea Energy Agency, May 2017 Compounding this issue was Korea’s tightly controlled energy market. Until 2015, the generation and supply of Korea’s energy was the exclusive responsibility of KEPCO, Korea’s dedicated utility company. Recognising the need for stimulation in this sector, the government introduced phased liberalization of the country’s energy market, which eventually enabled competitors to enter the market. At the same time, the government-sponsored R&D project ‘Korea Micro Energy Grid’ was launched, allowing KT to develop