For B.Grimm Power, the energy arm of Bangkok-based B.Grimm Group — a 147-year-old conglomerate with core businesses spanning health care, energy, industrial systems and real estate — South Korea stands as a beacon of promise.

The nation’s rapid development in the energy sector appears all but destined, and perhaps more importantly, it bears testament to B.Grimm’s broader commitment to sustainability and a cleaner future across Asia.

At the helm of B.Grimm’s charge into Korea’s energy future is Chairman Harald Link, a linchpin who recognized an opportunity for the company’s mission of doing business with compassion to take lasting, tangible form.

“We believe Korea has enormous potential to lead in renewable energy,” said the chairman in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul last week, sensing the deeper currents of the nation’s untapped potential.

“The legal and policy framework is strong, the technology base is advanced, and the people are deeply aware of environmental concerns.”

B.Grimm not only brings cutting-edge technologies into Korea, but also invests in and collaborates extensively with local firms to help scale their capabilities.

This approach carries the legacy of the group’s technology-driven philosophy, grounded in its beginnings in 1878 when it brought modern medicine to Thailand.

“Since renewable energy technology is still limited in Korea, we bring in what has not yet been made available here from abroad,” Link said.

One example is the company’s plan to commercialize gearless wind turbines using German technology from Vensys Energy AG, laying the groundwork for Korean manufacturers to expand into markets such as Japan.

“Gearless wind turbine technology eliminates one of the most failure-prone components — the gearbox — making the system more reliable and easier to maintain,” said Link. “Bringing this to Korea is about building long-term resilience into the energy grid.”

Alongside its technology efforts, B.Grimm Power has invested significantly since its official entry into Korea in 2019. In 2023, it became the country’s largest foreign investor in renewable energy with a $500 million commitment.

Working with more than 100 Korean companies, B.Grimm has joined forces with Myungwoon Industry Development to develop the 364.8-megawatt Yeonggwang Nakwol offshore wind project, with a total investment of 2.3 trillion won ($1.6 billion).

With completion slated for 2026, it is the largest offshore wind farm project currently planned in Korea. B.Grimm also aims to invest in additional offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of 1.3 gigawatts over the next five years.

The project represents a wellspring of opportunities. According to the company, it has enabled firms like GS Entec to break into the monopile manufacturing business, while more than 70 percent of the total machinery and equipment used for the offshore wind farm were sourced domestically. Key contributors include GS Entec, Posco, Hyundai Steel, Taihan Cable & Solution and Samil C&S.

Renewable energy projects will continue to foster synergy among key sectors vital to Korea’s industrial competitiveness, such as the shipbuilding, steel and port industries.

Another project the company is backing, in partnership with Korea Midland Power, is the Saemangeum Sebit Power solar plant, which has an installed capacity of 99 megawatts. The facility began commercial operations under a 20-year power purchase agreement that runs until March 2042.

Looking ahead, B.Grimm Power aims to further its presence in Korea as a collaborator in the nation’s energy transition and its integration into the global clean energy landscape.

“The world is more connected than ever. Every great innovation is built on collaboration,” Link said.

B.Grimm Power envisions a future where it partners with Korean firms to jointly develop, invest in, and share profits from power generation projects across Southeast Asia, leveraging the project rights it has already secured in the region.

“What Korea achieved with consumer electronics, it can now achieve with renewable energy. And we’re proud to be part of that journey,” he remarked, expressing confidence in Korea’s energy future and predicting the country will reclaim its position as a global leader within five years.

Aligned with Korea’s rise in clean energy, B.Grimm Power upholds its identity as a compassionate company serving communities.

According to Link, B.Grimm’s guiding principle, “Empowering the world compassionately,” reflects a dual mission: one focused on delivering energy, the other on helping society thrive.

B.Grimm Power’s social engagement extends across six key areas — education, culture, environment, public welfare, religion and sports.

In February, B.Grimm Power was named to the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook for the fourth consecutive year, distinguished as the only Thai company ranked among the top 5 percent of the global electric utilities industry.

In Korea, B.Grimm Power’s cultural initiatives include support for large-scale public music programs, donations of wheelchairs to a medical center for veterans and efforts to promote biodiversity within the nation’s protected marine zones.

For instance, as part of its efforts to promote classical music accessibility, B.Grimm served as the principal sponsor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Park Concerts in 2023 and 2024.

In February, as chairman of the Thai Equestrian Federation, Link also became the first foreigner to receive an honorary award from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee in recognition of his support for Korean equestrian athletes.

B.Grimm plans to pursue sustained social initiatives in Korea while advancing the development of the clean energy industry. Ultimately, for his group, the ability to contribute to Korea “not just economically but culturally as well” is deeply meaningful, Link explained.

minmin@heraldcorp.com