Attracting attention as an exemplary case for improving resident acceptance
‘Hapcheon Dam Floating Solar Power Project’ in earnest
[일렉트릭파워 배상훈 기자]Hanwha Q CELLS (President Hee-cheol Kim) and Korea Water Resources Corporation (President Jae-Hyeon Park) are conducting the Hapcheon Dam floating solar power plant in the form of a resident-participating power generation project. Hanwha Q CELLS was in charge of the construction of the power plant.
The power plant, which has a facility capacity of 41 MW, spent 92.4 billion won. It is expected to be completed next year. It produces electricity that can be used by about 60,000 people annually for home use. According to Hanwha Q CELLS, annual reduction of 30 tons of fine dust and 26,000 tons of greenhouse gas can be achieved.
The two companies announced on December 22 that they hired local residents when constructing a floating solar power plant and started a business that can generate stable profits from power plants installed in the region based on the resident investment system.
Employment of local residents, distribution of power plant profits
Hanwha Q CELLS and Water Resources Corporation celebrated a safety prayer system on December 18th. On December 21, construction of the Hapcheon Dam floating solar power plant began. The Korea Water Resources Corporation and Hanwha Q CELLS first employ dozens of local manpower when constructing power plants. Local construction companies and heavy equipment companies will also participate.
In addition, ships from local fishing industries are used to transport equipment for water works. During the next 20 years to maintain the power plant, the necessary manpower and environmental supervisors are also planning to hire local residents.
The two companies plan to share power plant profits by engaging local residents as investors. Local residents acquire shares of the power plant through investment. Depending on the participation rate, 4-10% of fixed interest income is distributed over 20 years.
The Hapcheon Dam floating solar power plant is constructed in the shape of the symbol of Hapcheon-gun,’Maehwa’. Through this, the symbolism of Hapcheon-gun was emphasized. Long-term regional development was pursued, taking into consideration renewable energy tours and tourism resources.
Park Cheon-gap, chairman of the Hapcheon Dam floating photovoltaic power plant residents’ council, said, “The floating photovoltaic power generation can generate income and employment for residents, and can also be used as a tourism resource.”
Transition from business center to citizen participation
The resident-participating power generation project is included in the renewable energy 3020 plan announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in 2017. The key is to shift the main body of energy supply from outsiders and business operators to inducing local and general public participation.
In order to increase the share of renewable energy generation to 20% by 2030, it is a view that public participation is important in the end.
In a situation where there are many disputes related to renewable energy projects nationwide, the water resources corporation and Hanwha Q CELLS’ resident-participating power generation projects, such as direct employment of local residents, stable distribution of profits, and establishment of tourism infrastructure, are attracting attention as an exemplary industry example.
Professor Park Jin-ho of Yeungnam University, senior vice president of the Korea Energy Association, said, “The Hapcheon Dam floating photovoltaic power plant, which resolves conflicts with the local community, the biggest obstacle to the spread of renewable energy, is the global benchmarking target of countries around the world that promote carbon neutrality. I said.
He added, “It has shown that floating solar power can be converted into a PIMFY facility through harmony of the residents, the environment, and the landscape.”
Dr. Yoo-jin Lee of Green Transformation Research Institute also said, “The case of the Hapcheon Dam floating solar power plant is a case where the solar power generation project and local residents co-exist.
Use of eco-friendly equipment … environmental stability verification
Hanwha Q CELLS plans to construct a floating solar power plant at Hapcheon Dam with a product that meets the world’s highest quality standards. Hanwha Q CELLS applies Q.PEAK DUO Poseidon, a module exclusively for water solar power, to this place.
The Q-Peak Duo Poseidon, produced with eco-friendly equipment, is a product specialized for high temperature and high humidity environments. It is optimized for aquatic environment. Hanwha Q CELLS applied an internal test standard higher than the KS certification review regulations, such as exposure tests for more than 3,000 hours in an environment of 85 degrees Celsius and 85% relative humidity.
Hanwha Q CELLS President Kim Hee-cheol said, “We made the most of the technology of Hanwha Q CELLS, which achieved the No. 1 market share in major solar module markets such as the United States, Germany, and Japan,” and said, “We will coexist with the local community to carry out this construction.
In addition, he said, “We will contribute to residents and local communities through construction with excellent solar power plant quality and long-term stability.”
Park Jae-hyun, president of Water Resources Corporation, also emphasized, “To realize carbon neutrality, the transition to renewable energy must be accelerated.” “Coexistence measures with local communities must also be accompanied.” In particular, he said, “Through this project, we will make the resident-participating floating photovoltaic project an exemplary case for energy conversion.”
Meanwhile, the Hapcheon Dam floating solar power plant has also verified its environmental stability. As a result of the four-time monitoring conducted by the Korea Environmental Policy Evaluation Institute at the Hapcheon Lake floating photovoltaic demonstration complex, it was concluded that it is difficult to say that the photovoltaic power generation facility had a negative environmental impact.
As a result of the survey on water quality and aquatic ecology, the Korea Environmental Policy Evaluation Institute revealed that there was no significant difference between the waters affected by the power plant and the waters that were not, and most items were’less than the standard value’.
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