Tag: Korea

Inje County, Gangwon, Korea

Seoraksan, Inje County, Gangwon, Korea

  • Target: 100% renewable energy by 2045.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: 6 MW of wind power and 1.7 MW of mini-hydropower.
  • Implementation: The county of Inje in the Province of Gangwon-do is located in the north of the Republic of Korea, bordering with North Korea. The rural county is covered with around 88% of forest. In 2015, Inje County developed the ‘Inje 2045 Zero Energy Independence Plan’, to transform itself into Eco Inje by transitioning to 100% by 2045. To achieve this target, Inje County is taking advantage of its natural environment, particularly its hilly landscapes and water resources. Its Plan would set out five main policy areas: 1) Expansion of New Renewable Energy production, 2) Energy Efficiency, 3) Energy conservation & Creation of Civic culture, 4) Expansion of Carbon Sinks, and 5) Building & Strengthening cooperative foundation. Some of the actions already implemented include 6 MW of wind power and 1.7 MW of mini-hydropower generation capacity. Inje's plan has been strengthened by adopting the best scenario through the '2015-2016 Energy-safe Cities' program in cooperation with ICLEI Korea and other relevant organizations in Korea. One of main challenges for Inje County remains the ability to create solid partnerships among relevant stakeholders such as the private sector, military and residents.
  • Population: 34,120 (2000)
  • Area: 1,646.33 km2(635.65 sq mi)
  • Link: Gangwon Windfarm
Seoraksan, Inje County, Gangwon, Korea

Jeju Province, Korea

Jeju Island, Korea

  • Target: 100% renewable electricity and transport, and to be a “carbon-free island" by 2030.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Onshore (350 MW) and offshore (1 GW) wind turbines, solar (30 MW), small hydroelectric power plants, and power storage systems. Electric cars, house energy management system (HEMS) and other technologies will also become available for the residents of the islands.
  • Implementation: Jeju self-governing province consists of several islands. In 2012, the Jeju Energy Corporation (JEC) of the Jeju province set the 100% target in order to be independent from the electricity imported from the Korean Peninsula, and to meet all its electricity demand by only renewable energy (RE) sources generated from within the islands. This initiative includes the replacement of the current fossil-fuel fired generator with RE technologies. The JEC aims to achieve the target by: (1) turning Gapa Island, a small island located South of Jeju, into a testing laboratory for Jeju to be the first carbon free island, (2) increase the share of renewable energy in the total energy demand to 50% by 2020, and (3) make Jeju Island a carbon-free city by 2030. The first step in switching Gapa Island to a carbon-free electric grid involved the municipality with central government agencies. The energy demand is met completely from wind turbines and solar photovoltaic systems. Electric vehicles for transport and HEMS have been placed in every household on the island. For the second and third steps, the Korean central government and from local investors will be investing in the installation of renewable energy technologies and smart grid trials. The Jeju Test-Bed for the Grid is a project that will function as a testing platform to improve the integration of RE and energy storage facilities within the grid. A total of 168 companies are participating in the project, which covers approximately 6,000 households throughout Jeju Island. The Jeju’s smart grid will be one of the world’s largest smart grid communities that will allow the testing of advanced smart grid technologies, offering opportunities for R&D, energy storage, and the development of new business models.
  • Population: 604,771 (2014)
  • Area: 1,849 km2 (714 sq mi)
  • Link: https://www.ecowatch.com/south-koreas-plan-to-have-worlds-first-carbon-free-island-1891165990.html
Jeju Island, Korea