Korea, Libya to Jointly Harness Solar Power

By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter

If North Korea tried to teach Libya how to go nuclear, then South Korea may be able to help the Middle-Eastern country divert to a safer, cleaner and more plentiful type of energy ― the sun.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) said Tuesday that it will develop an advanced type of solar energy generation system for the Renewable Energies and Water Desalination Research Center (REWDRC) of Libya.

The REWDRC, formerly the Tajoura (Tajura) Nuclear Research Center, is the same agency that North Korea is suspected of having delivered uranium to back in 2001 for the construction of nuclear bombs. Libya announced its decision to drop its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

For the solar project, the government research agencies of South Korea and Libya and a Korean research firm named KONES said that they will invest $5 million each over the next five years to develop a cost-efficient solar generating system known as ``dye-sensitized solar cells.''

For the final negotiation over the deal, REWDRC's director Salem Ghurbal arrived in Korea on Tuesday, they said, adding they will soon sign an official contract.

It is the notion that oil will run out eventually that is pushing Middle Eastern countries toward research into renewable energy, said KONES, which will be in charge of project management.

``Many North African nations are preparing for 30 and 40 years from now,'' said Lee Un-jang, a manager at KONES. ``They know this very well, so the REWDRC have established very good research and development facilities. Now they need the technology and know-how to use them.''

The dye-sensitized solar cell is a new class of low-cost cell. While the traditional solar panels use black silicon materials to convert solar energy to electricity, this type of solar cell uses photosensitive dye for that purpose. The cells are promising because they are made of low-cost materials and do not need elaborate apparatus to manufacture. ETRI claims to have many core patents on this technology.

Using the cells, ETRI said it can lower the cost of solar panel generation from the current 700 won ($0.7) per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 70 won ($0.07) by 2015. If it goes according to plan, the dye-sensitized solar generation can compete with nuclear power (40 won per kWh) and hydro-electric power (85 won per kWh).

The REWDRC was established in 1983 as the Tajoura Nuclear Research Facility. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency suspected that North Korea had sent uranium material to Tajoura. The center later changed its name when it combined with the Solar Studies Center.

The current solar project has a strange resonance with its nuclear projects. KONES, which stands for Korea Nuclear Engineering & Service Company, is best known for its expertise in dealing with nuclear waste. Its parent firm Daeyang, a trader, has been operating an office in Libya for over 20 years. The company flatly denied any relationship between Libya's nuclear project and its solar generation business.

indizio@koreatimes.co.kr

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