The Han River in Seoul (Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 13 (Korea Bizwire) — An eco-friendly hydrothermal energy project in Seoul is making headlines as the city plans to test the feasibility of this renewable energy.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Sunday announced the pilot introduction of hydrothermal energy, utilizing Han River water in the water supply sector.
Unlike other natural energy sources, hydrothermal energy utilizes the thermal energy of water, making it less susceptible to weather conditions.
The Lotte World Tower in Jamsil uses Han River water to supply about 10 percent of its heating and cooling needs with hydrothermal energy.
To obtain hydrothermal energy, water is circulated in dams, rivers, or water pipes that are cooler than the air temperature in the summer and warmer in the winter. The water is then used for cooling and heating energy in buildings.
This year, the city plans to test the use of hydrothermal energy via the water supply conduit for cooling and heating facilities at two water intake sites, Gangbuk and Jayang.
These sites were chosen due to their proximity to the water conduit, which reduces facility costs, and the replacement of existing heating and cooling systems.
The use of hydrothermal energy at these sites is expected to result in the reduction of 27.8 kilograms of fine dust and 20.5 tons of oil equivalent (TOE) per year.
The adoption of hydrothermal energy at the two water intake sites is projected to result in an annual reduction of 42.5 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2eq), which is comparable to the carbon absorption of 306 pine trees.
The Soyang River Dam in Gangwon Province is also promoting a hydrothermal energy convergence cluster, indicating an increasing trend in the use of hydrothermal energy in South Korea.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
