Paju City Accelerates Designation of "Distributed Energy Specialized Zone"... Establishing a Metropolitan-Area Power System

Paju City to Introduce 'Thrifty Electricity Pricing System'
Initiates Development of Distributed Energy Implementation Strategy
Building a Local Production and Consumption Power System Based on the Thrifty Electricity Pricing System

Paju City, which has been advancing discussions on distributed energy policy by proposing a "metropolitan-area type local production and consumption power system," has now begun work on developing an implementation strategy.

Paju City held a kickoff meeting for the "Paju City Basic Energy Implementation Strategy Establishment Research Project" on the 18th, attended by Paju Deputy Mayor Byunggap Choi and key department heads of Paju City. Provided by Paju City

On March 18, Paju City held a kickoff meeting for the "Paju City Basic Energy Implementation Strategy Establishment Research Project," attended by Choi Byunggap, Deputy Mayor of Paju City, along with key department heads of Paju City.

This research project was initiated to proactively respond to the regionally differentiated electricity pricing system scheduled to be introduced under the Special Act on the Promotion of Distributed Energy, and to develop policy strategies based on a "thrifty electricity pricing system." The aim is to designate Paju City as a distributed energy specialized zone and design a local power system tailored to local conditions, thereby providing reasonable electricity rates to citizens.

Although the Seoul metropolitan area is where electricity consumption is concentrated, it lacks sufficient power generation infrastructure and is structurally dependent on long-distance transmission. To address this, Paju City is pursuing distributed energy policies with the goal of establishing a metropolitan-area type local production and consumption power system, enabling locally generated power to be consumed within the region.

The research will analyze the current state of distributed energy and the electricity demand structure in Paju City, review strategies to introduce distributed energy specialized zones for offering the thrifty electricity pricing system to citizens, and develop regional development-linked energy strategies to meet changing energy demands arising from projects such as the Economic Free Zone, Peace Economic Special Zone, and growth hub developments.

In addition, the study will examine the possibility of introducing agrivoltaics in connection with the concept of an energy superhighway in northern Gyeonggi Province, and will propose measures to expand region-based energy businesses such as renewable energy power brokerage, solar power installation, operation and management, and rural solar income village projects, led by Paju Urban Corporation.

Paju City has been expanding its region-based electricity business model by promoting public renewable energy direct power purchase agreement (PPA) projects utilizing public sites. More recently, the city has actively worked to establish a policy foundation, including hosting expert forums to discuss the promotion of distributed energy and improvements to the solar power setback distance system.

A Paju City official stated, "Designating a distributed energy specialized zone is an important policy to provide reasonable electricity rates to citizens and to create a power system where electricity generated within the region is also used locally. Through this research project, we will lay the groundwork for introducing a 'thrifty electricity pricing system' and further develop a regional power model that supports companies' RE100 compliance."

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