Gwangju Dong-gu Achieves 'Great Success' by Being Selected for Renewable Energy Convergence Support Project for 3 Consecutive Years

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] Dong-gu, Gwangju (Mayor Im Taek) announced on the 20th that it has secured 2.7 billion KRW in project funds after being selected for the 2022 New Renewable Energy Supply (Convergence Support) Project contest hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The "New Renewable Energy Convergence Support Project" is a project that installs new renewable energy facilities such as solar power, solar thermal, and geothermal energy in houses and buildings within a designated area to help residents reduce electricity and fuel costs as well as contribute to environmental improvement. Dong-gu has achieved the remarkable feat of being selected for three consecutive years in this field, securing a total of 7.5 billion KRW in project funds.

To eliminate energy welfare blind spots through the supply of new renewable energy, Dong-gu established the "Eco-friendly Energy Self-reliant Village Creation Project" plan and held several briefing sessions for residents of Dongmyeong-dong, Jisan 1·2-dong, Seonam-dong, and Jiwon 2-dong, which are the target areas for next year's project.

As a result, 281 households expressed their desire to install new renewable energy facilities, and after conducting on-site surveys of the applicant households, the project was submitted to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in June.

With this contest selection, Dong-gu will promote next year ▲250 cases of solar power facility construction that produces electricity ▲31 cases of solar thermal facility construction that uses collectors to produce hot water.

Dong-gu plans to create and complete eco-friendly energy self-reliant villages by distributing new renewable energy throughout all 13 neighborhoods by 2023, and it is expected that energy welfare will be greatly improved, including reduced heating costs for residents who had a heavy burden of electricity and heating expenses.

Mayor Im Taek of Dong-gu said, "With this contest selection, we expect to reduce the heating cost burden of energy-vulnerable residents who had a heavy energy burden," adding, "We hope that the supply of eco-friendly new renewable energy will not only realize energy welfare but also serve as active action against the climate crisis such as carbon neutrality."