Sejong, April 25 - On April 20, the Ministry of Environment (ME, Minister Han Jeoung Ae) and K-water (CEO Park Jae-hyeon) signed an agreement for a pilot project for hydrothermal energy supply with eight participating organizations. The eight organizations include Samsung Medical Center, WTC Seoul, Mirae Asset Global Investments, Sangju city government, NCSoft, Korea Power Exchange, Chungcheongbuk-do provincial government, and Gyeongsangnam-do Office of Education, in the order of energy size. According to the agreement, hydrothermal energy will be supplied to nine of their structures. Minister Han joined the ceremony, along with Hong Il-hong, vice governor for the economic affairs of Chungcheongbuk-do, and officials from the participating organizations.

1 Refrigeration ton (RT): The rate of heat transfer that results in the freezing of 1 ton of water at 0℃ into 1 ton of ice at 0℃. It can operate an air-conditioning unit in a 28 ㎡ room for 1 hour.

The signing ceremony was to commemorate that the Ministry of Environment launched the "pilot project for supplying hydrothermal energy to public and private buildings (2022?2024)". The participating organizations will play a leading role in supplying hydrothermal energy through the agreement. It is anticipated that annual electricity consumption from heating and cooling will be reduced by 35.8%, or 36.5 GWh, and greenhouse gas emissions by 1,900 tons once hydrothermal energy is supplied to those nine buildings, including Samsung Medical Center. It is also expected that total consumption will be reduced from 101.9 GWh to 65.4 GWh. 

The pilot project for supplying hydrothermal energy is a follow-up to the "plan for the adoption of green, hydrothermal energy," which was jointly instituted during the State Council meeting in June 2020. In 2021, the Ministry concluded the pilot project to supply hydrothermal energy at the two government buildings, including the National Institute of Environmental Research, and has started a three-year follow-up initiative involving corporates and local governments. The Ministry plans to update the Hydrothermal Energy Installation and Operation Manual during the pilot project and promote a full-scale supply project starting in 2025. By 2030, the Ministry also intends to save 427 GWh of power and reduce 217,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions by installing 1 GW of hydrothermal energy.

In the meantime, ME is working with K-water and the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology to review the related system to include hydrothermal energy in the "Certification of Zero Energy Buildings" by the end of this year. The "Certification of Zero Energy Buildings" is a part of the Green Buildings Construction Support Act, which mandates the use of renewable energy in public buildings with a gross floor area of more than 1,000m2. Solar and geothermal energies have been used in the past, and hydrothermal energy was an exception since it lacked electricity to substitute production calculation criteria. If hydrothermal energy is included in the Certification of Zero Energy Buildings, the buildings can enjoy benefits such as ease-off building standards, tax deduction (reduced acquisition tax), and financial support, for the widespread adoption of hydrothermal energy.

"Hydrothermal energy is the key to expanding our renewable energy and helping us reach carbon neutrality in the construction sector," said the Minister of Environment, Han Jeoung ae. She also added, "We plan to contribute to the ESG in private sectors and expand zero-energy buildings by continuing our efforts to improve the related system and develop technology for the expansion of hydrothermal energy."

K-water CEO Park Jae-hyeon also commented, "First of all, I commend the active engagement of civilian and local governments in the hydrothermal energy project, one of the keys to carbon neutrality in water. By supplying hydrothermal energy to symbolic buildings in the community, we will use all of our resources to ensure that the region becomes the place for its carbon neutrality."

Contact: Kang Kyoung-rok, Deputy Director

Water Policy Coordination Division / +82-(0)44-201-7640 

Foreign Media Contact: CHUN Minjo

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr