Heating and Cooling with River Water... 300 Billion Invested in Eco-Friendly 'Suyeol Energy' Cluster

Report and Disclosure of 'Thermal Energy Activation Plan' at the Cabinet Meeting on the 30th
Ministry of Environment: "Promoting Green New Deal Flagship Project... Creating Quality Jobs"
Establishment of 'Gangwon Thermal Energy Convergence Cluster' by 2027
Expansion of Thermal Energy Supply by Local Governments... Promotion of Localization of Advanced Technologies

Perspective View of the Suyeol Energy Convergence Cluster in Chuncheon, Gangwon

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The government has spotlighted 'water-source heat energy' as a flagship eco-friendly project under the Green New Deal. By 2027, a pilot project worth 300 billion KRW will be conducted in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, utilizing the Soyanggang Dam. To promote water-source heat energy, improvements in systems such as technology localization and various water-related fee reductions will also be pursued.

On the morning of the 30th, the Ministry of Environment reported the 'Eco-friendly Water-source Heat Energy Activation Plan' at the Cabinet meeting. Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae expressed confidence, stating, "The water-source heat energy industry can grow not only by creating quality jobs but also as a flagship project of the Green New Deal."

Water-source heat energy is an eco-friendly energy that utilizes the characteristic of water being cooler than the air in summer and warmer than the air in winter for heating and cooling. It has advantages such as energy savings, greenhouse gas reduction, and contributing to the mitigation of the heat island effect by eliminating cooling towers in buildings.

This eco-friendly water-source heat energy activation plan includes a mid- to long-term execution plan featuring ▲ the creation of a 300 billion KRW convergence cluster ▲ customized system improvements and pilot projects ▲ core technology development.

First, the Ministry of Environment plans to establish the 'Gangwon Water-source Heat Energy Convergence Cluster' in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, utilizing the Soyanggang Dam. The heating and cooling supply scale will be 16,500 RT, more than five times that of Lotte World Tower (3,000 RT), which applies water-source heat energy.

The project cost totals 302.7 billion KRW, including 25.3 billion KRW from the national government, 10.9 billion KRW from local governments, and 266.5 billion KRW from private investment. In the coming month, the Ministry of Environment, Chuncheon City, and Korea Water Resources Corporation will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the cluster establishment.

By 2027, plans include creating a data center complex, smart advanced agricultural complex, smart residential complex, and water-source heat energy specialized complex based on eco-friendly water-source heat energy supply.

The Ministry of Environment aims to develop the Gangwon Water-source Heat Energy Convergence Cluster into a representative carbon-neutral (NET-ZERO) cluster based on renewable energies such as water-source heat energy, floating solar power, and hydropower.

Additionally, starting this year, pilot supplies of water-source heat energy will be gradually promoted using river water at sites such as the Busan Eco Delta Smart City (Pyeonggangcheon), Incheon Comprehensive Environmental Research Complex (Aracheon), and Han River Water Environment Research Institute (Bukhan River).

Using wide-area raw water managed by Korea Water Resources Corporation, water-source heat energy supply will expand from 2022 to public sectors including the Han River Flood Control Office and Gwangmyeong-Siheung Urban Advanced Industrial Complex, as well as large private buildings like Samsung Seoul Hospital.

To activate water-source heat energy, system improvements will be pursued to reduce various water-related fees such as river water usage fees, water use charges, and dam water usage fees. In addition to individual buildings, supply methods will be explored through consultations with local governments at the urban planning stage for new towns and large industrial complexes.

For the activation of water-source heat energy, localization of key advanced technologies such as heat exchangers and compressors will be pursued. To this end, the Ministry of Environment will collaborate with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy from this year to launch national research and development (R&D) projects. A representative project is the development of water-source heating and cooling and renewable heat hybrid system technology (23.5 billion KRW).

A 'Water-source Heat Energy Support Group' composed of experts from academia and industry will be formed to provide close support for the spread of water-source heat energy through policy and technical advice and corporate exchanges.

Efforts will also be made to promote water-source heat energy. Along with nationwide local government briefing sessions, a comprehensive survey will be conducted on the applicability of water-source heat energy to newly constructed public buildings, and a water-source heat energy exhibition hall will be established to enhance accessibility.

Minister of Environment Cho Myung-rae stated, "This water-source heat energy activation plan will serve as a catalyst for rapid expansion in the private sector as well," adding, "Through this, the water-source heat energy industry can grow not only by creating quality jobs but also as a new pillar of the green industry and a flagship project of the Green New Deal."

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