The number of solar panel projects approved last year exceeds the total number of similar projects approved in the last 12 years. (image: Korea Energy Agency)
DAEJEON, Mar. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — Experts are concerned over the problem that solar panels are being installed in areas that are ten times the size of forests being created to reduce fine dust.
Rep. Kim Tae-heum, a member of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, revealed that a total of 5,553 projects have been approved for the installation of solar panels in mountainous areas that stretch across 2,443 hectares, which is ten times the size of urban forests created across 248 hectares last year as part of the initiative to reduce fine dust.
The number of solar panel projects approved last year exceeds the total number of similar projects approved in the last 12 years.
Within a single year, solar panel projects covering 2,443 hectares of land were approved, in addition to other solar panel projects already approved for installation across 2,950 hectares of mountainous regions.
The Korea Forest Service and Ministry of Environment announced plans to slow down the rapid expansion of solar panels in mountainous regions last May. However, Kim argued that the plans only exacerbated the process.
Following the government announcement, the number of requests for approval soared as companies sought to acquire approval before the government plans took effect.
A total of 633 cases were approved for installation across 278ha in November alone. In December, 574 cases were approved for installation across 289 hectares.
The number of cases approved during these two months were more than the total number of cases approved in the entire year of 2016 (917 cases, 529 hectares).
North Jeolla Province had the highest number of cases approved (2,036 cases, 468 hectares), while South Jeolla Province had the largest area of land approved for solar panel projects (1,688 cases, 621 hectares).
“Solar panels are spreading like wildfire in mountainous regions thanks to the government’s post-nuclear and renewable energy policy, causing significant damage to our mountains and forests,” said Kim.
“The Korea Forest Service should conduct systematic checks on solar panel facilities to come up with a plan to properly manage them.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
