Safety Inspection of 44,000 Government-Distributed Solar Power Facilities by June

Entering Summer Flood and Wind Disaster Safety Management System for Solar and Wind Power Facilities
Strengthening Preventive Activities Such as Pre-Inspection of Vulnerable Facilities and Promotion and Guidance Services
Establishing Joint Response System Among Ministry of Industry, Energy Corporation, and Local Governments
Revision of 'Electric Utility Act Enforcement Rules' to Require Submission of Design Qualification Documents When Applying for Inspection of Small-Scale Solar Power Facilities Under 10kW

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government will begin a safety management system for solar and wind power facilities to prepare for summer typhoons and heavy rains, starting early next month with about 1,200 aged mountain solar power facilities. The 44,352 government-subsidized facilities subject to mandatory post-management will complete inspections before the rainy season in June.

On the 30th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it will launch a safety management system for solar and wind power facilities to prepare for summer typhoons and heavy rains. This year, based on the experience of safety measures implemented in 2018-2019, it will strengthen pre-inspections and publicity for solar and wind power facilities.

First, preventive activities such as pre-inspections of vulnerable facilities will be reinforced. Inspections will begin with 44,352 government-subsidized facilities installed within the last three years, including solar and solar thermal installations. Of these, 8,104 sites will be inspected on-site, and 36,248 sites will be checked via phone.

Additionally, commercial (RPS) facilities will be inspected starting early next month, focusing on about 1,200 aged mountain solar power facilities. Targets include 1,235 mountain-installed solar power generation facilities under 1MW that have been installed for over five years. The plan is to verify whether structures, drainage facilities, and cut-and-fill slopes are operating stably.

Small-scale facilities such as mini solar power and those owned or managed by local governments will also receive guidance on safety inspection procedures. Inspections will be pushed to be completed before the rainy season in June.

From next month until October, a joint emergency response system will be established and operated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Energy Agency, and local governments to prepare for typhoons and heavy rainfall. Cooperation systems will also be set up with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korea Forest Service, and rapid and accurate information will be provided to the public through subtitle broadcasts by disaster-related broadcasters.

A step-by-step alert text message (MMS) service will be provided according to weather conditions such as heavy rain and strong winds. Based on a contact network of about 40,000 entities including power plant owners, subsidy program participants, and construction companies, a step-by-step and regional safety alert service will be offered according to disaster situations (weather warnings, etc.).

Last year, there were five typhoons and 21 heavy rain events, during which about 580,000 safety alert messages were sent.

Safety education for solar power facility owners and construction companies will be expanded by region. Six sessions will be held starting next month, two more than the four sessions held last year. Safety management guidelines and accident casebooks for solar power facilities will also be prepared and distributed.

In February 18 and last month on the 2nd, the Ministry revised the "Regulations on Issuance of Supply Certificates and Operation of Trading Markets" and the "Guidelines on Support for Renewable Energy Facilities," improving safety standards for solar power generation facilities. This includes establishing construction standards by solar power facility location (ground-mounted, building-mounted, floating) and structural safety verification for facilities over 3kW.

Additionally, revisions to the "Electric Utility Act Enforcement Rules" will be pursued to require submission of documents prepared by qualified designers when applying for pre-use inspections of small-scale solar power facilities under 10kW (general electrical facilities), which are somewhat vulnerable to management.

An official from the Ministry said, "Strengthening structural safety inspections during pre-use inspections of general facilities will be possible," and added, "During regular inspections every three years, management status will also be checked to ensure the continuous safety of the facilities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.