Gumi Selected as Nation's First "Carbon Neutral Industrial Complex Representative Model"

Secured 50 Billion Won in National Funding
After Final Competition with Busan

On September 15, the city of Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province announced that it had been selected for the "2025 Carbon Neutral Industrial Complex Representative Model Establishment Project," organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The city has secured a total project budget of 130.2 billion won, including 50 billion won in national funding, 50 billion won in local government funding, and 30.2 billion won in private investment.

Photo of the industrial complex. Photo by Kim Ihwan

After a fierce competition with Busan Metropolitan City, Gumi was selected as the nation's first recipient in the final evaluation held on September 11, and will begin full-scale implementation in the second half of this year.

The "Carbon Neutral Industrial Complex Representative Model Establishment Project" targets existing energy-intensive industrial complexes and aims to reduce carbon emissions through the following initiatives: construction of a 30MW solar power plant, establishment of a 50MWh energy storage system (ESS) and an intelligent power grid, development of an industrial ecosystem for battery recycling after use, and energy environment transition projects within the industrial complex. The ultimate goal is to help companies respond to global carbon regulations such as RE100, CBA, and DP.

First, by utilizing idle spaces such as factory rooftops and public parking lots within the industrial complex, a 30MW solar power plant will be built to supply renewable energy to tenant companies, supporting their efforts to comply with global carbon regulations.

Next, 10MW of electricity generated by the solar power plant will be supplied to a 50MWh energy storage system (ESS) power plant. This stored electricity will be sold to companies at lower prices during peak demand hours, thereby enhancing their price competitiveness. In addition, an intelligent power trading system will be established to allow companies to purchase the electricity they need when they need it, and the revenue from sales will be reinvested in local carbon reduction projects.

Furthermore, infrastructure will be built for the reuse and recycling of batteries from electric vehicles, as well as for mobile ESS units. This will enable joint demonstration projects and business model development among industrial complex companies, establishing a sustainable resource circulation ecosystem.

Finally, the city plans to support tenant companies by conducting surveys on the status of companies subject to global carbon regulations, providing consulting to help them develop customized implementation roadmaps, and assisting with equipment upgrades that are highly effective in reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption. These efforts aim to help companies respond to global carbon regulations.

Gumi Mayor Kim Jangho stated, "This project will mark the starting point for the carbon-neutral transformation of the Gumi Industrial Complex and provide an opportunity for local companies to proactively respond to global environmental regulations." He added, "We will accelerate efforts to enhance the image of Gumi as a clean city, ensure the sustainability of the industrial complex, and strengthen the competitiveness of our companies."

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