Sejong, April 5 - Environment Minister Han Wha-jin visited the Siheung water treatment plant (located in Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do) on March 27, 2023, to check the facility’s current utilization of renewable energy and discuss how to extend carbon neutrality strategies to environmental infrastructure across the country.

The Siheung water treatment plant has achieved carbon neutrality by installing photovoltaic and Energy Storage System (ESS) devices and producing renewable energy greater than the electricity consumed at the water treatment plant, setting a good example for other environmental infrastructure. The treatment plant annually emits 764 tons of CO2e for the electricity consumed. It has also achieved an annual greenhouse gas reduction of 854 tons of CO2e, which indicates a greenhouse reduction rate of 111.8%. In 2023, a process control system using big data-based AI will be introduced to the treatment plant to improve energy efficiency and further reduce greenhouse gas.

For the past decade, since 2010, the Ministry of Environment has installed 306 renewable energy facilities in environmental infrastructure, such as water and sewage. These facilities are contributing to the annual greenhouse gas reduction of 32,000 tons. This year, the Ministry will install 90 photovoltaic and hydrothermal power generation facilities in environmental infrastructure, such as public wastewater treatment facilities and landfills, to achieve an additional greenhouse gas reduction of 13,000 tons annually. The Ministry also plans to add ESS devices to the list of greenhouse gas reduction facilities entitled to government support to supplement intermittent power generation by renewables, increase support for energy-efficient facilities in environmental infrastructure, and produce renewable energy.

According to the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of the Republic of Korea announced on March 21, 2023, more renewable energy, such as solar energy, should be distributed to ensure further greenhouse gas reduction. Therefore, the Ministry of Environment plans to establish a renewable energy team to develop projects under its jurisdiction. In addition, the Ministry will develop a leading model for environmental infrastructure and other public facilities and provide more support for the entire process of renewable energy facilities in the private sector.

Minister Han Wha-jin stated, “Increasing renewable energy is not an option but a must in achieving carbon neutrality.” She added, “From now on, environmental infrastructure will take the lead in achieving carbon neutrality while setting a good example so that the private sector can use renewable energy more easily.”

Contact: Lee Chang-hwan, Deputy Director

Climate Economy Division / +82-(0)44-201-6592

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr