Press Release

Board View

Finding answers to trade barriers in floating solar power

▷ The Ministry of Environment held a policy meeting on floating solar power for RE100 member companies and exporters -


Sejong, March 13 - On March 8, 2023, the Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) held a 'Policy Meeting on Floating Solar Power' for RE100 member companies and exporters. Officials from the Ministry of Environment, including the Vice Minister of Environment Yoo Je-chul, and the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), and RE100 members (Samsung Electronics, SK E&S, Hanwha Solutions, and Naver, etc.) attended the meeting.


The meeting participants shared current issues concerning floating solar power projects and discussed ways to improve the related policies and systems to support the companies. First, Lee Jong-oh, Secretary-General of the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) 's Korean Committee, explained the prospects for expanding renewable electricity in Korea and the measures for getting 100% of energy from renewable resources. Lee Hyeong-seok, head of the solar power business at the K-water, shared a strategy for floating solar power generation to support export companies. Gi Il, Executive Director of Hanwha Solutions, proposed a direction to improve policies and systems to promote the floating solar industry. Then, Son Ok-ju, the Director-General of the Water Resources Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Environment, led a discussion attended by △Shin Jin-soo, Deputy Minister for the Water Management Policy of the Ministry of Environment, △Chung Gyong-un, Vice President of the Korea Water Resources Corporation, △Song Doo-kun, Vice President of Samsung Electronics, △Professor Son Chang-sik of Silla University, △Professor Ahn Hyeong-geun of Konkuk University, △Park Jae-duk, Group leader at SK E&S, and Lim Dong-ah, Naver External/ESG Policy leader.

 

Floating photovoltaics (FPV) is an eco-friendly method for generating electric power by combining renewable (solar) energy and marine technologies (shipbuilding + mooring). It mainly refers to solar panels mounted on a structure that floats on a body of water so there is no forest damage. In general, floating solar can achieve higher efficiencies (about 5%) than regular photovoltaic (PV) panels on land because water cools the panels. In particular, floating solar is spotlighted because it can resolve trade barriers caused by the goal of achieving carbon neutrality.  


Floating solar power plants installed on the surface of dam reservoirs are being recognized for their merit as it enables us to use limited domestic renewable energy resources efficiently. Also, the installation areas are gradually expanding due to using resident participation systems and sharing the profits from power generation with residents. The Ministry of Environment plans to gradually develop a floating solar farm with a total capacity of 1.1 GW on the surface of 19 dam reservoirs by 2030. Environmental safety had been monitored for over ten years after installing the first floating solar power station at Hapcheon Dam in 2012. As a result, there was no negative impact on the environment, such as changes in water quality, sediment, and the ecosystem. 


Vice Minister of Environment Yoo Je-chul stated, "The Ministry of Environment will continue to support exporters by using floating solar power." He added, "We will gradually expand the supply of floating solar to help our companies achieve 100% renewable electricity (RE100), based on thorough environmental safety and obtaining consent from residents."



Contact: Sun Jin-soo, Deputy Director

Water Resource Policy Division / +82-(0)44-201-7618


Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

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