KOWACO initiated the Generated Integrated Operating System (GIOS) project in preparation for increased competition when South Korea opens its electric power market.

KOWACO presently delivers 65% of South Korea’s hydropower, about 10% of the total electricity demand. The GIOS project seeks to build an integrated water resources plant and management system that takes full advantage of automation and information technology.

"Honeywell has been an excellent partner in the first phase of this project, and has completed our goals. We look forward to working with Honeywell for the next phase of this important project," said Young Gue Kim, director of power facilities of KOWACO.

For the second phase of the GIOS project, Honeywell will automate power station operations using its supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system and plant history database (PHD).

Honeywell will automate local control systems and build a central database for the power stations and dams, enabling KOWACO to monitor and control operations of nine main power stations and hydraulic dams from a centralised control centre.

The SCADA solution will be comprised of DB Server, SCADA Server with programmable logic controller (PLC) and operator work stations, engineering work stations, simulator training systems, power analysers and networking solutions.

"This is the first project of its kind in Korea," said Desmond Teo, vice president of Honeywell Process Solutions, Asia Pacific.

"We are very pleased that KOWACO has awarded us the opportunity to continue the integration of these systems, and we hope to continue to work with KOWACO on future programs."