Solar panels at the Samcheonpo power plant in southeast South Korea. (image: Korea South-East Power Co.)
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will establish a solar energy research and development center that domestic solar energy companies can jointly use to develop new technology.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on Tuesday that it had selected the Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon Tachnopark, Korea University and Chungnam National University as the executing organizations responsible for the establishment of the R&D center.
As part of the nation’s so-called Green New Deal project, the center will enable domestic businesses to verify the function and effectiveness of their solar energy devices before starting mass production.
The ministry earmarked 25 billion won (US$22.6 million) for the establishment of the R&D center, which will be located within the Daejeon International Science Business Belt.
The center is scheduled to be completed in June 2022, with construction expected to begin in June 2021.
It will feature a 100-megawatt pilot line that can be used by domestic companies with specialty in solar energy-related materials, parts and equipment, including solar cell and modules.
By leveraging the pilot line, the companies will be able to collaborate to push for the development of next-generation solar cells.
The government said that it would provide active support for the development of next-generation solar cells under the goal of boosting the efficiency of solar cells by up to 35 percent by 2030.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
