South Korea Throws $36 Billion into Clean Energy
Energy Boom
The South Korean government has announced it will invest US$35.4 billion in the development of renewable energy resources by 2015.
The government said the investments will be funneled into bothpublic and private sector initiatives. Although the investment willfocus on developing several different resources including hydrogen fuel cells, light-emitting diodes (LED), and tidal energy, the twoindustries that will receive the bulk of the financial support are wind and solar.
More than $6 billion will be invested in research and development of wind and solar energy systems. Furthermore, the private sector intends to invest $30 billion in similar projects. The governmentplans to increase South Korea’s solar capacity to 400 MW by 2012. Itintends to do this through promoting utility-scale projects as well asresidential solar systems. By 2012, more than 100,000 homes areexpected to have solar systems.
South Korea also has big wind energy ambitions. The country aims to have 1,000 MW of installed wind power by 2012. Even more, it hopes to hold a 10% share of the global wind energy supply chain. So, thecountry is working diligently to establish a manufacturing base whichwould allow it to act as a domestic and export hub for wind turbinecomponents.
By 2030, South Korea, Asia’s fourth largest economy, expects to generate 11% of electricity from renewable sources. Currently, the Asian nation receives 2.4% of its power from alternative energy sources.
Image credit: d’n'c via Flickr
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