Hanan and Gangwon Province Collaborate on New Energy Development Including Thermal Water Projects

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Korea District Heating Corporation (KDHC) and Gangwon Province have agreed to actively cooperate on new energy development projects such as seawater heat utilization and energy self-sufficient islands.

KDHC announced on the 6th that President Hwang Chang-hwa and Governor Choi Moon-soon of Gangwon Province met on the 5th at KDHC headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

At the meeting, the two organizations agreed to jointly pursue clean new energy development projects, including the seawater heat utilization project and energy self-sufficient islands promoted by Gangwon Province.

Gangwon Province is conducting a project that supplies year-round cooling to a convergence cluster centered on data centers using cold water from Soyanggang Dam. They are also working on projects such as developing Nami Island, a representative tourist destination, into an eco-friendly energy self-sufficient island.

KDHC has accumulated professional experience in the regional heating and cooling sector for 30 years since its establishment in 1985. It is an organization that carries out collective energy projects producing and supplying electricity and heat simultaneously.

As a comprehensive energy company, KDHC has extensive know-how in eco-friendly new energy business areas promoted by Gangwon Province, including supplying year-round chilled water cooling to data centers in the Sangam district of Seoul.

President Hwang expressed deep support and encouragement for Governor Choi’s active promotion of new energy-related policies.

At the same time, he provided Governor Choi with detailed explanations about KDHC’s experience and new renewable energy projects such as waste hydrogenation technology. The waste hydrogenation technology was recently selected as part of the government’s Green New Deal project.

President Hwang proposed discovering areas where KDHC can cooperate with Gangwon Province’s energy projects and jointly finding ways to strengthen collaboration between the two organizations.

Governor Choi expressed gratitude for KDHC’s willingness to cooperate. He stated that they would build a cooperative relationship in the energy sector to ensure that new energy-related policies can stabilize on a fast track. He also mentioned plans to promote the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and work-level consultations.

The two heads agreed to jointly create a business model that can be a 'win-win' with Korea Water Resources Corporation, which is collaborating on Gangwon Province’s seawater heat utilization project.

A KDHC official said, "Through this meeting, based on the active leadership of the heads of the organizations, the two institutions will maintain a close cooperation system in the new energy field and strive to establish an excellent cooperation case between local governments and public institutions."

Exterior view of the Korea District Heating Corporation headquarters. (Photo by Korea District Heating Corporation headquarters)

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