Bright idea: Britain backs Korean solar energy system

British Ambassador to Korea Charles Hay, second from left, attends the Energy Welfare Practice Donation Ceremony in Hampyeong, South Jeolla Province, on Dec. 3. / Courtesy of the British Embassy

By Rachel Lee

The British Embassy in Seoul has become a leader in supporting a Korean renewable energy project.

Four organizations, including the embassy, Hampyeong County government, Daedong, a solar-power product maker, and KT, Korea’s second-largest mobile carrier, were involved in the one-megawatt floating solar system on Daedong Reservoir in Hampyeong, South Jeolla Province.

The photovoltaic system had its final test on Nov. 24.

“As countries gathered this week in Paris to agree to a global deal to tackle climate change, I’m pleased to be here in Hampyeong to support this innovative renewable project,” British Ambassador to Korea Charles Hay said. “As well as providing clean energy, the floating solar farm, the first of its kind in Jeonnam, will hopefully inspire others to use renewable energy. I am also delighted that some of the profits will be donated to a very deserving orphanage in Hampyeong.”

According to the embassy, the Daedong Floating Solar Photovoltaic System is the largest private power generation system in Gwangju and the province area. It was built using a specific frame system with a patent co-developed by KT and Namyang Communications.

This was applied to KT’s Kt-MEG (Micro Energy Grid) platform and provides efficient operation and management through power generation information monitoring, power generation analysis and operation monitoring.

As well as providing clean energy, the floating solar farm will “highlight the key role of renewable energy in the fight against climate change and will hopefully encourage further similar initiatives,” the embassy said.

Ahn Byeong-ho, Hampyeong County Mayor, said: “We greatly appreciate the British Embassy in Seoul, Daedong and KT leading this environmentally friendly power generation project within our county and donating the profits to our local child-care facility. We will do our best to continue to contribute to tackling climate change in this region.”

Yoo Yang-hwan, KT Jeollanam-do office director, said: “KT is very active in renewable energy projects to help reduce global warming as its future growth businesses. By expanding renewable energy projects, including floating solar photovoltaic systems, we will try to realize the so-called ‘Energy GiGAtopia,’ in which people use energy more efficiently in a pleasant and clean environment.”

Floating solar photovoltaic systems limit damage to the environment and are 5-15 percent more efficient than an ordinary solar-power farm.

“If we utilize 5 percent of Korea’s entire reservoirs, we can generate 4,179 megawatts,” an embassy spokesperson said. “The floating system also earns a higher rate of return than ordinary solar-power generation farms and therefore would be more popular in South Korea, which has a small land area.”