A 'Zero Energy Specialized City' to be Established in Suwon Dangsu District

Conceptual Diagram of Zero-Energy Building (Provided by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) announced on the 3rd that they will create a world-class zero-energy specialized city, integrating energy and ecological environment, in Suwon Dangsu 2 District, Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province.

The zero-energy specialized city project expands the application of Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) to the urban scale. Last year, pilot projects were promoted in the Guri Galmae station area and Seongnam Bokjeong 1 District, aiming for an energy self-sufficiency rate of over 20% for the entire city. The Suwon Dangsu 2 specialized city sets goals of over 50% energy self-sufficiency and more than 50% carbon reduction to realize carbon neutrality.

The Suwon Dangsu 2 District covers an area of 684,000㎡ in Dangsu-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon City, with plans to build 5,000 housing units by 2025. It is evaluated to have excellent transportation conditions due to its proximity to the Pyeongtaek-Paju Expressway and Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1. It also boasts excellent natural conditions such as Chilbosan Mountain and Dangsuchen Stream. Various renewable energies including solar power, fuel cells, small hydropower, water heat, and geothermal energy will be introduced, and future technologies such as urban passive elements (bicycle paths, wind corridors, etc.), urban energy management systems, and energy-saving systems for residential heating and hot water will be applied.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and LH plan to advance the project based on the basic plan including energy city design techniques established in the zero-energy pilot city, and jointly respond to technical advice and management operations by forming a 'Zero Energy Governance' involving the government, local governments, academia, and the private sector. A promotional center will also be built to provide a space for promotion, tours, and citizen participation in the zero-energy city.

Location map of Suwon Dangsu 2 District, Gyeonggi Province (Provided by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

Meanwhile, Suwon City, the local government in charge of the specialized city, decided to actively cooperate in attracting 'resident-participatory social enterprises' to link the 'Suwon-type Ecological Village Creation Project' underway in Suwon Dangsu 1 District with this pilot project and to ensure that the benefits of energy cost reduction are shared with residents.

Kim Sang-moon, Director of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Architectural Policy Division, said, "By linking this zero-energy specialized city project with the Korean New Deal's Green New Deal project, we will reduce greenhouse gases and energy at the urban level, contributing to the realization of the 2050 carbon neutrality policy and the innovative growth of related industries."

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