Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

The 2025 World Climate Industry EXPO (WCE) opened on August 27 in Busan, Korea. This large-scale international event is co-hosted by the Korean government, the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the World Bank (WB) as the flagship of Energy Super Week, held from August 25 to 29. The expo features exhibitions, 12 conferences, and nearly 60 side events and programs under the theme, “Energy for AI & AI for Energy.”

▶Global Energy and Climate Leaders Meet in Busan

The opening ceremony brought together more than 1,000 participants, including the IEA Executive Director and WB Vice President. Alongside major figures from international bodies, it also hosted 32 government delegations and 15 ambassadors and other officials from 24 embassies in Korea. Major digital companies such as Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA, and Amazon Web Services; global leading players in clean energy such as RWE, Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Bloom Energy; and homegrown corporations such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK Innovation, Hanwha Qcells, and Doosan Enerbility, were also present.

In his opening remarks, Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Min-seok stated, “Korea will achieve carbon neutrality, energy security, and economic growth by constructing an ‘Energy Highway,’ expanding electricity grids, and transitioning to renewable energy.” He added, “We will work with the international community for a sustainable future powered by AI and energy.”

Keynote addresses followed. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol projected that energy demand could grow up to six times faster in the future due to increasing use of AI, electric vehicles, and air-conditioning. He stressed the importance of grid investment, noting, “Rapid grid expansion is a shared global challenge in the AI era. Powerful and flexible grid systems are the foundation of competitiveness in the AI industry.”

Microsoft’s Director of Sustainability Policy Michelle Patron mentioned, “Grid investment is necessary to expand clean energy supply in line with demands from AI and economic growth.” She added, “To secure stable carbon-free energy supply sought by businesses, we must improve procurement methods and coordinate the connection of relevant systems, such as power purchase agreements and renewable energy certification.”

▶New Korean Administration Unveils Visions for Climate and Energy

The 2025 WCE operates 6 exhibition halls, where nearly 540 companies demonstrate future energy solutions and industry strategies driven by next-generation grids, AI, and renewable energy.

This year’s highlight is the newly launched “Energy Highway” hall featuring Korea’s three major electrical equipment companies—Hyosung Heavy Industries, LS Electric, and HD Hyundai Electric. The hall showcases strategic projects of the new Korean administration, such as a West Coast high-voltage direct current network, while presenting onshore/offshore grid solutions, smart grids, microgrids, ultra-high voltage transformers, and energy storage systems.

Other exhibits feature next-generation energy technologies. Doosan Enerbility showcases Korea’s first 10MW-class wind turbine as well as small modular reactor technologies. Korea Zinc introduces a value chain on renewable energy and green hydrogen. Hanwha Qcells presents innovative technologies and products for RE100 industrial complex development, such as floating solar panels and agrivoltaics.

Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, SK Innovation, and Hyundai Motor provide a glimpse into the future of energy-AI convergence through consumer-focused innovations, such as immersion cooling for AI data centers, AI chips and glass substrates, zero-energy buildings, smart homes, eco-friendly heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging robots.

▶100 Global Energy Leaders Discuss AI-Era Energy Strategies

The 2025 WCE held 12 international conferences on climate, energy, and AI. This year, four of these conferences were organized by international organizations, strengthening the expo’s role as a global dialogue platform. Nearly 100 domestic and international participants attended as speakers and panelists for in-depth discussions.

On August 27, the Korea-IEA Global Forum brought together representatives from eight leading global companies, including Microsoft, NVIDIA, Amazon Web Services, and Schneider Electric. They discussed AI-driven surges in energy demand and innovation in energy systems.

The Korea-WB Global Forum also convened experts from energy companies and organizations, such as the WB and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). They explored smart and resilient energy transition strategies for the international community, including the East Asia-Pacific region.

On August 28, the Korea Energy Agency and the Asian Development Bank held a high-level dialogue on clean energy under the theme, “Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable and Low-Carbon Future.” Participants included the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s Deputy Executive Secretary; Sri Lanka’s Secretary; and other representatives and experts from domestic and international organizations, such as the IEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, LG Energy Solution, and Doosan Fuel Cell.

Also on August 27, the EU-Korea AI & Energy Seminar was hosted by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Korea. It brought together high-level officials, including the Director for Just Transition, Energy Efficiency and Innovation at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy; and sub-ministerial officials from Finland and the Netherlands. They discussed AI’s role in the transition to clean energy and explored EU-Korea cooperation for the future of digital energy.

▶Festival for All: From Job Fair to Experiential Programs

On August 28, the 2025 WCE hosted a job fair with 48 agencies and companies from the climate and energy sectors. The fair offered one-on-one career consultations and drew strong interest from young job seekers in the climate sector. This year also marks the first time that international bodies and companies, such as the WB, GGGI, and RWE, attended the fair. The WB and GGGI, in particular, took active roles as keynote presenters.

To support market expansion for exhibitors, the 2025 WCE also organized Sales and Export Consultation Meetings. The Sales Consultation Meeting connected 59 domestic buyers, including local governments, public corporations, and public agencies, with participating companies. The Export Consultation Meeting, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, matched more than 60 overseas buyers with over 100 companies, expanding opportunities for global exports.

On the evening of August 27, a special drone show was held at Gwangalli Beach under the theme of Energy Super Week, celebrating the expo’s opening. Various experiential programs were also provided, including an energy and AI talk concert by Korean science YouTuber Gwedo, as well as interactive programs with conversational AI, AI-powered cameras, and AI ice cream robots.

The 2025 WCE has minimized printing by using digital brochures and QR codes and offset its operational carbon footprint by purchasing forest carbon credits, making it a carbon-neutral event.

Before the opening ceremony, Korea’s Prime Minister toured the expo and encouraged the staff, viewing the latest technologies and the country’s future visions, such as renewable energy and the Energy Highway.

The 2025 WCE runs through August 29, in active cooperation among MOTIE and other ministries. Energy Super Week will conclude its five-day program with 19 final events, following key conferences such as the Korea-ADB Clean Energy Forum, the Global Climate Technology Future Strategy Forum, and the job fair.