Ambitious offshore wind farm projects in Korea are facing strong headwinds from local residents and the fishery industry citing the possible impact of the projects on the environment and fisheries.
In a deadlock, both the energy and fishery industries are calling for the government to fill in regulatory loopholes in the process of obtaining consent from local residents.
Korea has been deemed a promising market for offshore wind farms by energy companies both home and abroad amid the accelerating transition to renewable energy worldwide.
As of September, a total of 69 offshore wind farm projects with a combined capacity of 20.7 gigawatts have gotten licenses from the Electricity Regulatory Commission under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, according to Electric Power Journal’s Sept. 27 report based on the commission’s monthly minutes. That accounts for about 29 percent of the government’s renewable energy target by 2030.
Overseas energy companies such as Norway’s Equinor and Canada’s Northland Power have been actively making inroads into the local offshore wind market over the past few years.
However, how many of the approved projects would be able to proceed as planned is uncertain, with administrative loopholes and hiccups involving local residents remaining a major obstacle.
The National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (Suhyup), a fishing industry advocacy group, on Oct. 3 warned of a protest in front of the Yongsan presidential office on Oct. 12 to oppose offshore wind plant construction. About 500 fishermen are expected to gather that day, according to the federation.
Suhyup is urging the government to re-evaluate all of the projects currently planned from scratch and come up with a site selection standard in consideration of fishery activity protection zones.