Nowon-gu Leads Carbon Neutrality with Eco-Friendly Energy Policies... Awarded Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Prize at '2024 Korea Solar League'

Recognized for efforts in renewable energy such as veranda-type solar power distribution and building-integrated colored photovoltaic (BIPV) installation demonstration projects, uniquely among Seoul districts maintaining support for veranda-type mini solar power facilities and small-scale private electricity producers' generation difference support projects

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it has been recognized for its efforts to expand renewable energy and received the 'Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award' at the 6th Korea Solar League (K-Solar League).

The Korea Solar League is a competition that evaluates the achievements of local governments and private solar power dissemination. In the newly established policy performance category this year, 17 metropolitan local governments in addition to 226 basic local governments nationwide competed based on their policy efforts and excellence. Nowon-gu was awarded in recognition of its efforts to expand renewable energy.

The district is conducting various projects to expand renewable energy, such as the distribution of veranda-type solar panels and a demonstration project for building-integrated colored photovoltaic (BIPV) installations.

The distribution of veranda-type solar panels is a representative project that the district has been implementing since 2014 to advance the carbon-neutral era. It is the only autonomous district in Seoul that maintains an installation support project and also the only one supporting the difference in power generation for small-scale private electricity producers.

These efforts by the district have been reflected in outstanding results among Seoul's autonomous districts. Over the past 10 years from 2014 to 2023, it has supported 15,629 cases of veranda-type mini solar panels and has subsidized the production of 3,926 MWh by 21 power producers since 2017.

In the first half of this year, the veranda solar panel installation project received such a high number of applications that it closed early, showing strong resident support.

Besides residential solar power, the district is also striving to become a leading carbon-neutral city by installing new renewable energy and improving energy efficiency in public facilities it builds and operates. To eliminate the resistance that solar power facilities spoil the aesthetics of buildings, the district installed building-integrated colored photovoltaic (BIPV) systems last year and plans to expand this to other public buildings.

Meanwhile, the district views effective control of energy use and carbon emissions through buildings in urban areas as a key issue in carbon-neutral policies. Last year, it established the 'Public Building Zero Energy Building Roadmap' and is applying it step-by-step. All new or renovated public buildings in the district will maximize energy efficiency using passive construction methods, aiming to implement the zero energy building (ZEB) mandate earlier than the government roadmap.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “We feel the heavy responsibility of local governments in facing the climate crisis and are making various efforts such as promoting solar energy for carbon neutrality. We will continue to support the private sector and spare no effort in the public sector to realize carbon neutrality through eco-friendly energy, taking this award as an opportunity.”