[Lee Jaemyung Administration One Year] "Realizing a Decarbonized Electro-State"... Ministry of Climate Unveils Energy Transformation Achievements

Surge in Solar Power, ESS, and Electric Vehicle Adoption

First Overhaul of Time-of-Use Electricity Rates in 28 Years

Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment, is attending and speaking at the 38th Energy Committee meeting held on the 19th at the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News.

To mark the first anniversary of the Lee Jaemyung administration, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has released its key policy achievements, including the expansion of renewable energy, investments in the power grid, the promotion of electric vehicles, and the transition to a circular economy. The Ministry announced its intention to accelerate the establishment of an energy transformation foundation, aiming to realize a "decarbonized electro-state."

On May 20, Minister Kim Sunghwan presented these "Core Achievements of the First Year of the People’s Sovereignty Government" at a Cabinet meeting.

Minister Kim first introduced the so-called "three-piece legislative package" currently underway to expand renewable energy. These include improvements to setback distance regulations, the solar income system, and the revision of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), all intended to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. The Ministry is also pursuing the introduction of a fast-track system for wind power site selection and permitting, as well as the first overhaul of time-of-use electricity rates in 28 years.

The scale of investment in renewable energy has also increased. Government funding for the renewable energy sector rose from 1.0677 trillion won in 2024 to 1.1148 trillion won this year, and is set to increase to 1.7822 trillion won next year. A total of 1 trillion won will be invested in building next-generation power grids by 2030. The government also plans to simultaneously develop core technologies for subsea high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission and build flexible transmission lines.

Minister Kim highlighted growth in the electric vehicle and new energy industries as major achievements. According to the Ministry, electric vehicle deployment reached a record 221,000 units last year. In the first quarter of this year, 85,533 electric vehicles were deployed, up more than 50% from 33,501 during the same period last year. The share of domestically produced electric buses also rose from 45.8% in 2023 to 66.3% this year.

The energy storage system (ESS) market has experienced rapid growth. In the first quarter of this year, the cumulative volume selected in the ESS central contract market surged to 1,198 MW, a sharp increase from 68 MW last year. The government plans to nurture Jeju as a "green civilization island" and Naju as a hub for distributed energy industries encompassing research, production, and export.

In the environmental sector, the government pointed to policies for flood safety networks and building a circular economy as key achievements. Of 14 new dams, construction was halted at 7 sites with low necessity and strong local opposition. The management system for 360,000 stormwater inlets and 310,000 manholes was converted to comprehensive oversight. The advancement of AI-based green algae forecasting and the designation of Geumjeongsan as a national park were also cited as major achievements.

In the circular economy sector, the scope of producer responsibility recycling (EPR) for electrical and electronic products was expanded to cover all items, and a system for free collection of discarded appliances was established. The Ministry also announced plans to accelerate the transition to a "plastic-free society" by increasing the use of recycled materials and promoting a culture of reusable containers.

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