- Signed MOU on Solar Railroad project on March 24, will lead carbon neutrality and Green New Deal -
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced that it will actively promote the Green New Deal using railway resources. In order for the government to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 (Carbon Neutral 2050), the MOLIT plans to induce the growth engine of railway in the future through a Green New Deal project which expands renewable energy business and realizes low-carbon and eco-friendly railway.
On March 24 (Wed.), MOLIT(Minister: Byeon Chang-heum), the Seoul Metropolitan Government(SMG, Acting Mayor: Seo Jeong-hyup), and Korea Railroad Corporation (CEO: Son Byeong-seok) entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Seoul City Hall for the “Solar Railroad Green New Deal Cooperation” project to build solar power generation facilities using railway infrastructure.
Attending the agreement ceremony, the MOLIT Vice Minister for Transport Son Myuong-soo, Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup and CEO Son Byeong-seok signed the agreement and discussed plans to strengthen cooperation for the solar power generation project.
This cooperation project holds significance as Korea’s first cooperative solar power Green New Deal model promoted through cooperation among the central government, local government, and public organization.
Through this agreement, installation of a solar power generation facility to a total scale of 25 MW will be jointly promoted by the end of 2022—(a) 19.8 MW on a rail yard and a station parking lot and (b) 5.2 MW of solar power landmark on train stations, such as Seoul Station.
The project will be generating approximately 32 million KWh of power, which is enough to cover the power required at 10,000 households per year. This is expected to give greenhouse gas reduction effect equivalent to planting approximately 2.2 million of 30-year-old pine trees.
Starting with this cooperation project, the MOLIT and Korea Railroad Corporation will continue to expand cooperation with other organizations such as local governments and power companies and increase the scale of railway solar power generation up to 456 MW* by 2030.
* Exceeding power generation capacity of Seocheon Thermal Power Plant (anthracite) (400 MW)
In addition, the two organizations plan to preferentially use the electricity generated by railway solar power facilities for the purpose of improving convenience of station users, such as using the electricity to supply power to station buildings and distribute electric vehicle chargers at the station parking lots.
MOLIT Vice Minister Son said, “Making preparations for the post-COVID-19 era, railway will evolve from its traditional role as an eco-friendly transportation means to a space where eco-friendly energy is produced. It is expected to serve as the motivation for achieving the goal of Carbon Neutral 2050 in transportation field.”
Korea Railroad Corporation CEO Son also said, “We will actively promote the railway Green New Deal and contribute to carbon neutralization so that railway infrastructure across the country is reborn as solar power plants that generate eco-friendly energy.”
* National greenhouse gas emissions (730 million tons, 2018): 100 million tons from transportation industry (13.5%), 20 million tons from agricultural industry (2.9%), 290 million tons from energy industry (39.5%), and 190 million tons from manufacturing and construction industries (25.6%).