[Feature] Jeonnam Renewable Energy from Sun and Wind... ② The Key Lies in Overcoming Technical Limitations

Top National Levels in Solar and Wind Power Generation
Significant Electricity Losses Due to Insufficient Transmission and Distribution Networks
Technical Capabilities Crucial as Renewable Energy Output Remains Unstable

Equipment exhibition site installed at the Jeollanam-do Offshore Wind Power Industry Expo held over two days from the 18th to the 19th of last month at Yeosu Expo Convention Center. Photo by Shim Jinseok

Jeonnam has announced plans to foster renewable energy as a key regional industry, but the reality is far from easy. Although power generation facilities are rapidly increasing, the lack of infrastructure to distribute the electricity produced has resulted in low efficiency.

◇ Highest Power Generation in the Country

According to the recently released 'JNI Infographic' by the Jeonnam Research Institute, as of 2024, Jeonnam ranked first nationwide in solar power generation with 7,087 GWh. This was followed by Jeonbuk (5,547 GWh), Gyeongbuk (4,302 GWh), and Chungnam (4,254 GWh).

Within Jeonnam, the top five counties?Shinan (1,073 GWh), Haenam (782 GWh), Yeonggwang (603 GWh), Yeongam (630 GWh), and Goheung (655 GWh)?accounted for 52.8% of the province's total solar power generation.

Jeonnam also ranked third nationwide in wind power generation with 644 GWh (19.0%). Gangwon (961 GWh) and Gyeongbuk (934 GWh) led the rankings, and together, Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, and Gangwon accounted for 73.5% of South Korea's total wind power generation. These results were achieved amid a surge of investment in renewable energy.

◇ What Happens to Wasted Electricity?

The problem is that despite having the highest level of power generation in the country, Jeonnam also has the highest amount of electricity that is essentially wasted.

Electricity is generated from thermal, nuclear, wind, and solar sources, and then transmitted to substations via high-voltage transmission lines of 154 kV or higher. At the substation, the high-voltage electricity is converted to medium or low voltage, and then distributed to homes, factories, and commercial buildings through the distribution network (utility poles, distribution lines, transformers, and distribution panels).

Unlike conventional systems such as nuclear power, renewable energy has a relatively weak ability to 'push' electricity through the grid, making the construction of transmission and distribution networks absolutely essential. However, while the capacity of renewable energy facilities?including solar and wind power plants?is increasing, the expansion of the power grid is lagging behind. As a result, the waiting capacity for grid connection in the Honam region, including Gwangju and Jeonnam, is reportedly as high as 4.2 GW. This means a significant amount of electricity is being wasted without purpose.

Recently, both the central government and Jeonnam Province have devised plans to resolve these issues by constructing an 'energy expressway.' The plan includes building 'high-performance long-distance transmission lines,' 'energy storage systems (ESS) that store and control energy flows during peak demand,' 'state-of-the-art offshore HVDC (high-voltage direct current) grids across the West Sea,' and 'distributed energy infrastructure that enables local production and management of energy.' These facilities are intended to maximize the efficiency of surplus electricity.

The government's ongoing initiative to create RE100 industrial complexes?where companies procure or self-generate 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2050?is also an extension of this concept.

Currently, Jeonnam Province is reviewing regional industrial complexes (six national, twelve general, and one agro-industrial complex) as candidates for RE100 industrial complexes. However, with technical limitations still evident?such as transmission constraints at major power plants on the East Coast due to delays in the East Coast to Seoul metropolitan area HVDC project?it remains uncertain how effective these plans will be.

Moreover, since the price of electricity generated from renewable energy remains higher than that of nuclear power, it is also unclear how the province will overcome the price gap to attract companies.

Renewable energy has the disadvantage that, even if the capacity (kW) is very large, the actual power output (kWh) can be small. While some may assume that greater capacity automatically means greater power generation, electricity production can drop to zero depending on sunlight and wind conditions. Conversely, if there is a sudden surplus of electricity, the risk of a major blackout increases, leading to additional preventive costs. Ultimately, overcoming these technical limitations is the key to the success of renewable energy.

An official from a local energy public enterprise commented, "The policy of fostering the renewable energy industry in the region has been pursued for quite some time. However, we still have not overcome issues such as environmental destruction, technological instability, and lack of public acceptance. These are areas that require deep consideration."