Seoul City-SK Energy Sign MOU to Promote Renewable Energy and Eco-friendly Vehicle Adoption

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and SK Energy Co., Ltd. have joined hands to expand the supply of renewable energy and build eco-friendly vehicle infrastructure.

On the 20th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will sign a business agreement with SK Energy at the Seosomun Annex of Seoul City Hall to expand the supply of eco-friendly vehicles by installing solar power generation facilities and electric vehicle charging facilities at SK gas stations and charging stations, sharing the need for energy transition in response to the climate change crisis. The signing ceremony will be attended by Jung Soo-yong, Head of the Climate and Environment Headquarters of Seoul, and Oh Jong-hoon, CEO of SK Energy P&M CIC.

According to this business agreement, Seoul and SK Energy will first collaborate to install solar power generation and electric vehicle charging facilities at all SK gas stations and charging stations where installation is possible. In particular, they plan to propose to the government regulatory improvements that hinder the supply of eco-friendly energy, such as the expansion of eco-friendly vehicle charging infrastructure at gas stations and charging stations and the installation of fuel cells, and also promote demonstration projects through regulatory sandboxes.

In addition, they plan to promote various mutual cooperation efforts such as supporting the commercialization of new products that have passed through Seoul’s solar power demonstration complex and supporting the development of technologies for eco-friendly vehicles and charging facilities suitable for Seoul. To this end, a working-level consultative body between Seoul and SK Energy will be formed to conduct regular consultations.

This agreement is the first cooperation model between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the petroleum industry for energy transition and eco-friendly vehicle supply in a metropolitan city. Seoul plans to strengthen various collaborations with SK Energy in multiple fields to successfully establish this eco-friendly energy transition model and develop sustainable low-carbon eco-friendly projects.

Jung Soo-yong, Head of the Climate and Environment Headquarters of Seoul, said, “It is very meaningful that SK Energy, which owns gas stations and charging stations, has agreed to cooperate with Seoul to create a renewable energy supply base,” adding, “We expect significant progress in the expansion of renewable energy supply and the installation of charging infrastructure for eco-friendly vehicles centered on gas stations and charging stations, which are vehicle fuel supply facilities.”