Naju-si Creates Energy Self-Reliant Carbon Neutral Experience Village... First in Gwangju and Jeonnam

An ‘Energy Self-Reliant Carbon Neutral Experience Village’ where eco-friendly renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power are produced and consumed, and advanced facilities can be directly experienced, has been established for the first time in Gwangju and Jeonnam in Naju City, Jeollanam-do.

Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Yoon Byeong-tae) announced on the 23rd that it held an opening ceremony for the ‘Energy Self-Reliant Carbon Neutral Experience Village’ yesterday at Daesil Village in Bonghwang-myeon, together with Dongshin University, Jeonnam Technopark, and the Behan Entrepreneurs Investment Association.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae, City Council Chairman Lee Sang-man, Dongshin University President Lee Joo-hee, and other guests are taking a commemorative photo at the opening ceremony.
[Photo by Naju City]

Daesil Village will be reborn as a ‘Naju-type Energy Prosumer Sharing Economy Village Living Lab’ space equipped with various renewable energy facility experience installations.

Energy prosumer is a compound word of energy producer and consumer, referring to entities that directly produce the electricity they consume through solar and wind power facilities.

Living lab means a participatory space where consumers (residents) collaborate with companies and others to research and experiment, literally a ‘daily life laboratory.’

This village has been equipped with solar power generators, hybrid wind turbines, rural-type E-mobility facilities, and a battery sharing system to enhance versatility.

It is expected to revitalize the village by generating profits from renewable energy production, supplying electricity to communal facilities such as the village senior center, charging electric vehicles, electric wheelchairs, electric motorcycles, and agricultural machinery, and attracting visitors linked to experiential tourism and creating jobs.

In addition, the village profits earned from selling surplus electricity will be distributed to residents or used to support the installation of renewable energy generation facilities for each household.

Along with the opening ceremony, Naju City signed a business agreement with Dongshin University, Jeonnam Technopark, and the Behan Entrepreneurs Investment Association, aiming for ‘global demonstration commercialization’ through the establishment of an energy prosumer self-reliant village.

The agreement includes contents such as activating the operation of the energy prosumer village, supporting the export of local energy companies in the fields of renewable energy, rural-type E-mobility, and battery sharing systems to Vietnam, and establishing a foundation for student exchanges between the two countries through sisterhood ties.

About 100 residents attended the opening and agreement ceremony, including Yoon Byeong-tae, Mayor of Naju City; Lee Sang-man, Chairperson of the City Council; Lee Ju-hee, President of Dongshin University; Oh Ik-hyun, Director of Jeonnam Technopark; Tran Hai Linh, Chairman of the Behan Entrepreneurs Investment Association; and Park Seong-su, General Director of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Innovation Platform.

Mayor Yoon Byeong-tae said in his congratulatory speech, “Bonghwang Daesil Village will establish itself as a model case of an RE100 energy self-reliant village that not only fully covers the village’s energy consumption through renewable energy generation such as solar and wind power but also increases income by selling surplus electricity.”

He added, “It is expected to provide opportunities for renewable energy experiences to local high school and university students and residents, and to offer local energy companies opportunities for overseas exports and growth through technology demonstration.”

Naju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yuk-bong baekok@asiae.co.kr