Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Solar Country Notes

Korea (Republic)
The years 2004 and 2005 witnessed rapid growth in Korea's use of photovoltaics, reflecting the implementation of The 2nd Basic Plan for New & Renewable Energy Technology Development & Dissemination, established in 2003. This Plan sets a target of a 3% share of total energy consumption for new and renewable energy in 2006, rising to 5% by 2012. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) has selected PV as one of the three key technologies to be developed and promoted. It is planned to bring Korea's PV capacity up to 1 300 MWp by 2012, through installations on 100 000 residential roof-tops and 70 000 commercial and industrial buildings.

In two years installed PV capacity rose by 150%, to reach 15 021 kWp by the end of 2005. Under the direction of MOCIE, an intensive programme of research, development and demonstration is being undertaken, with the object of improving the technological and commercial aspects of photovoltaic products and promoting their diffusion, both in Korea and abroad.

A project was announced in May 2007 for a 19.6 MWp PV power plant, to be built in Sinan, 400 km south-west of Seoul. The scheme, consisting of more than 100 000 sun-tracking solar modules, is expected to generate up to 27 GWh. On completion, scheduled for late 2008, it will become one of the world's largest PV power stations.