Korean renewable energy potential takes centre stage
Hanwha Q CELLS, one of the largest solar cell and module manufacturers in the world, on October 30, 2018 jointly hosted the second annual GGGI Energy Forum in Seoul, Republic of Korea, along with the Global Green Growth Institute (“GGGI”).
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural GGGI Energy Forum in Seoul, this year’s event attracted about 80 participants from a broad range of GGGI member countries including Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark and Mongolia, providing an opportunity for the attendees to share and discuss their current and future energy transition policies.
Director-General of GGGI, Frank Rijsberman, remarked in his welcome speech: “We should bust the myth that green growth is an expensive option. Solar energy, even with battery storage, is already commercially attractive – particularly where diesel energy is the alternative such as in small islands and off the grid. Green growth is the only viable option for a sustainable future.”
The overarching theme of the GGGI Energy Forum 2018 sought to address the renewable energy potential of the Korean peninsula. This topic was most directly tackled by Hans-Josef Fell, the President of Energy Watch Group and former member of the German Parliament (1998 – 2013). Mr. Fell’s presentation examined the most politically and technologically feasible ways for the Korean peninsula to achieve 100% renewable energy; a vision that drew rapturous applause from the attendees in the audience.
“In the Republic of Korea, there should be an institutional strategy and government support on R&D to make ‘100% renewable energy transition’ a reality,” Fell said, adding: “In addition to many countries, such as Denmark and Sweden, cities such as San Francisco and Copenhagen and corporations like Coca-Cola have also set ambitious goals for 100% renewable energy conversion.”
A related topic was further explored by Kyung-ho Lee, Director of the New and Renewable Energy Policy Division of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). Kyung-ho Lee presented a case study that discussed the Republic of Korea’s energy transition policy, which aims to draw 20% of the nation’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. This policy, also known as “Renewable Energy 3020,” will specifically embrace solar energy and offshore wind technology to drive the adoption of more secure, affordable, and clean power across the Republic of Korea.
Japanese inspiration and Korean perspiration
Another guest speaker at the GGGI Energy Forum 2018 was Izumi Kaizuka, Director of the Research Division at Japan’s RTS Corporation. Kaizuka relayed the details of Japan’s pivot towards renewable energy following the devastating East Japan Earthquake in 2011 that triggered the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster. Since then, the country rapidly increased its share of renewable energy in its mix from 1% to 7%, (2016) as the country abandoned nuclear power.
“Japan could only achieve this rapid renewable energy growth because the government set up a long-term specific goal that has been carried out step-by-step,” Kaizuka stressed. “Sustainable technological development and the government’s institutional improvements were necessary factors towards making renewables one of the core sources of energy in Japan.”
Faced with a similarly ambitious target, the Republic of Korea must develop a similar long-term strategy, the GGGI Energy Forum 2018 audience was told. Among the political representative attendants at the event, both Atle Hamar – Vice Minister of the Ministry of Climate and
Environment, Norway, and David Markey – Head of Business Environment and Climate Diplomacy at the British Embassy in Seoul – remarked that events such as the GGGI Energy Forum 2018 are key in supporting the Republic of Korea’s momentum towards a greener energy future.
As joint host, Hanwha Q CELLS exhibited the comprehensive steps that it has taken to ensure that its production process is powered as much as possible by solar energy. Hanwha Q CELLS (Qidong) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hanwha Q CELLS, has installed a 2.2 MW PV array atop its solar plant in China. Moreover, before the end of this year, Hanwha Q CELLS will donate solar modules to an eco-friendly tree nursery that will use solar electricity to nurture the growth of young saplings, in conjunction with Hanwha Group's social contribution campaign "Hanwha Solar Forest", which supports the growth of new forests to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
Joo Yoon, Senior Vice President of Global Sales Planning and Strategy at Hanwha Q CELLS, said: “The pollution we make today will certainly harm future generations to come. I want to call this an ‘environmental debt’. I hope appreciate the opportunity provided at this meaningful forum to discuss in depth on how new renewable energy can help solve the ‘environmental debt’ issue. Hanwha Q CELLS will also contribute to energy conversion via solar energy, a clean energy source, and will strive to overcome future challenges ahead.”
The second annual GGGI Energy Forum in Seoul was held at the Plaza Hotel on October 30, 2018. The event was held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, in 2016 and 2017 respectively.