"Where does the hydrogen go?"
"This is a model of a gas turbine. By replacing only the combustor here, hydrogen power generation becomes possible."
At around 10 a.m. on Oct. 30, the final day of Smart Energy Plus (SEP) 2026 at COEX Hall B in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, a group of employees from E1 stopped at the Doosan Enerbility booth. Gathered around a gas turbine model, they asked questions about where hydrogen is injected and how the power generation process works. They also listened to explanations and examined the model to learn more about its technical features.
Doosan Enerbility participated in SEP 2026 to showcase energy solutions and business capabilities aimed at meeting the surging electricity demand driven by the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. With stable power supply emerging as a core challenge for the energy industry, the company displayed its broad generation portfolio, ranging from nuclear power plants to gas turbines and renewable energy, all in one place.
A 380-megawatt-class gas turbine placed at the center of the exhibition hall is a power generation facility gaining attention as electricity demand surges due to the expansion of AI data centers. Gas turbines offer the advantage of being able to respond quickly to changes in power demand thanks to their rapid startup and high output adjustment capabilities. They can also be utilized as a power source to complement the variability of renewable energy generation, increasing market interest.
A small modular reactor (SMR) model also drew visitors' attention. An SMR is a next-generation nuclear power plant developed by miniaturizing the reactor and modularizing key equipment to reduce construction time and costs, while enabling flexible operation according to electricity demand.
The model exhibited this time received even more attention after Doosan Enerbility signed a contract with NuScale Power on the previous day to manufacture upper reactor pressure vessel (URPV) modules. The upper reactor module is a key piece of equipment that constitutes the upper part of the reactor pressure vessel, which contains high-temperature and high-pressure coolant. This means Doosan Enerbility has become a manufacturer of core reactor components for the largest-scale SMR project in the United States.
Previously, Doosan Enerbility signed an SMR materials manufacturing contract with NuScale Power in 2023. Through this new contract, the company expanded the scope of cooperation from the materials preparation stage to the full-scale manufacturing stage of commercial reactor components. This is significant as it secures an opportunity to demonstrate manufacturing capabilities within the actual commercial SMR supply chain, going beyond simple technical collaboration.
Next to the SMR stood a model of the Korean-type large nuclear power plant APR1400. Through this, Doosan Enerbility also emphasized its capability in manufacturing main equipment for large nuclear power plants, not just small ones. Large nuclear power plants are representative zero-carbon power sources capable of producing large amounts of electricity stably, and are considered a key energy source that will simultaneously support the increase in electricity demand in the AI era and carbon neutrality.
Doosan Enerbility designs, manufactures, and supplies core main equipment for nuclear power plants, such as reactors and steam generators. In addition to domestic nuclear power plant construction, the company has accumulated business experience in the global nuclear market by participating in overseas projects, including the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"SEP 2026" is an energy expo co-hosted by Money Today and COEX, and organized by the National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum. With this day, "SEP 2026" concludes its three-day schedule. Companies including LG Group, HD Hyundai Electric, Doosan Enerbility, and Yuneec, along with the Army, Seoul City, and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, set up booths to showcase their visions for the energy transition and security in the AI era.
in INDUSTRY
