A comprehensive power grid innovation plan to accommodate 100 GW of renewable energy by 2030 will be established by the first half of 2026.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE, Minister Kim Sunghwan) announced that it will hold the launch meeting of the “Power Grid Innovation Task Force (TF)” on February 24 at Seoul Biz Center Branch No. 5 (located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul) to usher in the era of 100 GW of renewable energy.

The government is pursuing various policies to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, including building locally produced and locally consumed distributed power grids and reinforcing interregional transmission lines. However, as the construction of new transmission lines requires a considerable amount of time, innovative measures across all areas of the power grid system, institutions, operations, and construction, are necessary to pave the way for the era of 100 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

First, in the institutional area, the government plans to prepare: △ grid maps to facilitate region-specific deployment of renewable energy in consideration of grid conditions; measures to revitalize the planned siting system for the rapid deployment of renewable energy in grid-available areas such as the Seoul metropolitan area; improvements to the current first-come, first-served grid connection system; utilization of connection lines from decommissioned coal-fired power plants; and strategies for establishing shared offshore wind grid connection infrastructure. 

In the operational area,  the government will prepare measures to enhance the utilization of the existing power grid. These will focus on expanding flexible connections while maintaining grid stability, and promoting “Non-Wires Alternatives (NWAs)*,” which can increase the grid’s capacity to accommodate renewable energy such as solar power without constructing new transmission infrastructure.

* Non-Wires Alternatives (NWAs): power grid investments that utilize non-traditional transmission and distribution solutions (such as energy storage systems (ESS)) to defer or avoid expansion of transmission and distribution networks.

Lastly, in the construction sector, the government plans to prepare measures to ensure the timely development of the power grid. These measures include diversifying construction methods to respond to the recent surge in grid construction volume; and enhancing community acceptance, such as supporting solar power projects for residents along national backbone transmission routes.

To this end, the MCEE will establish a “Power Grid Innovation Task Force (TF),” comprising Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korea Power Exchange, and external experts, to identify key initiatives for the structural innovation of the power grid.

Lee Jae-sik, Director General for Power Grid System Policy Bureau at the MCEE, stated, “Expanding renewable energy capacity to 100 GW by 2030 is a key government priority that supports carbon neutrality and the competitiveness of advanced industries.” He added, “We will swiftly establish innovative power grid systems to support the stable expansion of renewable energy.” 

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