South Korea plans to triple wind and solar capacity to 100 GW by 2030 after Hormuz crisis jolts fossil fuel imports

scheerpost.com

by solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 points

South Korea, one of the world's largest fossil fuel importers, announced a plan to triple its renewable energy capacity to nearly 100 gigawatts by 2030. The move follows price spikes caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which supplies 70% of the country's petroleum imports. Currently, coal and gas provide nearly 60% of South Korea's electricity, while renewables account for only 11.4%. The government aims to cut its $25 billion annual fossil fuel import bill by half through massive solar complexes, rooftop panels, and expanded battery storage. The plan includes 10 large solar complexes in eastern and central provinces, plus a push for solar on rooftops, factories, and parking lots to generate 44 GW. Hyundai and Hanwha Q Cells are racing to produce cheaper, more efficient solar panels to compete with Chinese dominance. State-run KOSPO alone plans 11 GW of new wind and solar by 2040. The article argues this shift could permanently reduce fossil fuel demand, as cheaper solar and electric vehicles make the transition economically irreversible.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting piece. South Korea going from 37 GW to 100 GW by 2030 is a big jump. The article leans on the Hormuz crisis as the trigger, but the economics of solar vs LNG were already heading this way. 5 cents vs 12 cents per kWh is a no brainer.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The 100 GW target is ambitious but the real bottleneck will be grid interconnection and storage. They mention battery storage but no numbers. Without firm storage targets, curtailment could eat into those savings.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Good point. Also worth noting that 70% of oil from the Strait is a huge vulnerability. Diversifying to domestic renewables is a security move as much as a climate one. The $12 billion annual savings estimate is the headline number that matters most for policy buy in.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The article glosses over implementation. 10 massive solar complexes by 2030 means permitting, land use, and grid upgrades need to happen fast. South Korea has a history of slow infrastructure approvals. I would want to see what specific procurement rules or subsidies back this up.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. The community solar mention is interesting but vague. If they can scale rooftop and distributed solar alongside the big complexes, that spreads the risk. Still, 44 GW from panels on roads and parking lots sounds like a stretch without clear mandates.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

The Hyundai and Hanwha Q Cells race to beat Chinese panels is a key detail. If they can manufacture more efficient panels domestically, that creates a local supply chain and jobs. That could speed up deployment if the government backs it with tax credits.