2025년 11월 20일
With the first-ever deployment of an AI-based energy optimization system at a major domestic shopping mall, a new era of energy management has begun. LF Square Gwangyang, the largest shopping mall in the Honam region, has recently confirmed the adoption of the system, which is expected to reduce energy costs by 10–15% per month while maintaining a comfortable shopping environment for visitors.
The technology being introduced at LF Square is an Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) model based on Self-Demand Response (Self-DR). AI analyzes real-time energy usage patterns across heating and cooling, lighting, and other facilities, automatically optimizing energy consumption while considering dynamic factors such as equipment fatigue, usage behavior, and operational reliability.
At the core of this system is balance. While conventional energy-saving approaches often compromise comfort, this technology enables efficient energy management without sacrificing customer satisfaction. The project also plans to optimize distributed energy resources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and energy storage systems (ESS), as well as improve heating and cooling efficiency through the use of large ceiling fans.
The project is led by the Energy Saver Consortium, comprising EIPGrid, an AI-based energy management specialist, and RSTsolutions, a company specializing in ESS operation solutions. Building on their experience from deploying the same AI energy management system at Suncheon St. Carollo Hospital in June, the consortium is now extending the model to the commercial retail sector.
A proven success in a high-energy-consumption hospital environment is now being expanded to a large shopping mall. LF Square Gwangyang demonstrated its commitment to the full-scale system rollout by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Energy Saver Consortium in late October.
Through this deployment, LF Square Gwangyang aims to achieve average monthly energy cost savings of 10–15%, potentially translating into significant annual reductions. Additional benefits are also expected, including incentives from participation in Korea Power Exchange demand response (DR) programs, enhanced safety diagnostics, and improved operational efficiency based on facility operation data.
A representative from LF Square Gwangyang stated, “This is a meaningful first step in aligning with the global shift toward a low-carbon society. We expect AI technology to become a major turning point in our shopping mall’s energy strategy.” Tony Lee, CEO of EIPGrid, emphasized, “This goes beyond simple technology deployment, it is the first case of a shopping mall and technology companies jointly creating a next-generation smart shopping mall model,” and added, “We will accelerate the full-scale expansion of AI-based energy cost optimization services across the public and industrial sectors.”
Expanding to Logistics Centers and Factories… Toward a Regional VPP
Starting with this project, the consortium plans to expand its Self-DR services to other energy-intensive facilities, including logistics centers and factories. In the long term, it aims to implement a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) leveraging distributed energy resources across the eastern Jeonnam region.
Specifically, Phase 1 will focus on deploying the AI-based energy-saving model at LF Square Gwangyang. Phase 2 will explore direct power transactions between LF Square Gwangyang and nearby Suncheon St. Carollo Hospital through the local distribution network. This initiative aims to demonstrate a real-world, regional VPP model in operation. Ik-cheol Jung, CEO of RSTsolutions, explained, “The project is designed to optimize the operation of generation and demand resources using renewable energy and energy storage systems, and to reinvest a portion of the resulting savings back into local community welfare.”