Securing the World's Best Technology to Reduce Carbon Emissions by Over 26.3% by 2030

Ministry of Science and ICT Announces at Online Planning Proposal Public Hearing on the 20th Morning

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The government plans to proactively secure the world's best core technologies in eight key sectors by 2030 to achieve '2050 Carbon Neutrality.'

On the morning of the 20th, the Ministry of Science and ICT disclosed this plan at a public hearing held online for the Carbon Neutral Innovation Technology Development Project proposal. Currently, the Korean government is preparing a concrete implementation strategy following President Moon Jae-in's declaration of '2050 Carbon Neutrality' last October, in accordance with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Technological innovation, including the development and commercialization of new technologies, is essential for carbon reduction and utilization. Accordingly, the government designated 10 core technologies to drive carbon neutrality last March. These will be intensively researched, developed, and commercialized to achieve the national carbon reduction target (NDC: 26.3% reduction compared to 2018) by 2030 and the carbon neutrality goal by 2050. Specifically, the 10 core technologies include ▲ ultra-high efficiency solar power and large-scale wind power ▲ securing hydrogen full-cycle technology ▲ securing leading bioenergy technology ▲ low-carbon transition of steel and cement industries ▲ next-generation petrochemical implementation ▲ maximizing industrial process efficiency ▲ zero-carbon next-generation transportation technology ▲ carbon-neutral building base technology ▲ efficiency optimization based on digitalization ▲ securing carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology (CCUS).

At the public hearing, a detailed roadmap was presented for the development projects of the remaining eight core technologies, excluding hydrogen and CCUS technologies currently under preliminary feasibility review. Three major technological innovation goals were set: developing world-class technologies, strengthening technological self-reliance, and discovering future new technology bases (SEED). For each of the eight core technologies, short-term key achievements will be rapidly attained and disseminated from 2023 to 2026, and by 2030, high-performance technologies with high applicability will be secured, performance verified, and introduced on-site for commercialization. To this end, four major implementation strategies were also established: ▲ strengthening target orientation ▲ enhancing responsiveness to environmental changes ▲ actively responding to industry demands ▲ promoting global cooperation.

Regarding specific technologies, next-generation solar cell research aims to develop innovative solar power technologies that reduce carbon emissions compared to existing solar power. Under this goal, efforts will be concentrated on three strategic areas: ▲ ultra-high performance of carbon-reduction solar cells ▲ activation of carbon-reduction solar cell dissemination ▲ near-zero carbon emission materials and processes. Technologies to be developed include ultra-high performance solar cells, urban-type solar power prototypes, and new carbon-reduction material process technologies.

For ultra-large wind power, goals include developing core component source technologies for 20MW-class ultra-large wind engines by 2030, developing core source technologies for 15MW-class floating wind power, developing source technologies for offshore wind power operation management, and new-concept next-generation wind power technologies. Transport bioenergy will develop basic and source technologies for petroleum substitute fuels based on unused biomass and secure high value-added innovative technologies. Industrial byproduct upcycling technology will introduce innovative technologies utilizing biomass byproducts and waste plastics, as well as resource recovery from byproducts and by-gases of steel, petrochemical, and solid processes. Next-generation industrial gas and energy technology innovation, future source technology research for secondary batteries, plus-energy buildings, and digital energy grids will also be developed to world-class levels by 2030.

Jung Byung-ki, Director of the Green Technology Center, stated, "This is a time when the whole world must accelerate steps toward carbon neutrality," adding, "This is a very important project as the first comprehensive national research and development project initiated by the government after declaring carbon neutrality, driving the transition to a decarbonized nation."

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to collect opinions from experts in academia, industry, and research, related government departments, and the general public until 6 p.m. on the 23rd regarding the announced content. Submissions can be made via email (netzero@gtck.re.kr).