Jeju launches task force to tackle offshore wind permitting and grid issues
In short
Jeju Province has launched an offshore wind promotion support task force and held its first meeting on Oct 6, Yonhap reported, to coordinate responses to permitting, grid connection, maritime boundary and resident acceptance issues. The task force has 17 members across five areas and is led by Vice Governor for Climate Economy Lee Chang-heum. Governor Wi Sung-gon asked for Jeju offshore wind’s national grid connection to be reflected in the 12th Electricity Supply and Demand Basic Plan and for faster demonstration of floating offshore wind.
Read the full story 2 min read
Jeju Province launched the Jeju Offshore Wind Promotion Support Task Force at a ceremony and first meeting at the provincial government building on Oct 6, Yonhap reported, saying the body was formed to respond jointly to major issues that arise in offshore wind projects. Newsis also reported that Jeju was starting up a support task force to take on the sector’s grid and permitting difficulties. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to Yonhap, offshore wind projects must pass permitting under several laws and consultations with relevant agencies, and each stage brings issues to resolve — grid connection, maritime boundaries, environmental impact assessment and resident acceptance among them. The province said it set up the task force to comprehensively review and coordinate issues that individual departments or agencies find hard to settle on their own. [ 2 ]
The task force is led by Vice Governor for Climate Economy Lee Chang-heum and has 17 members across five areas. Those areas are general and project management; marine and environment, covering marine spatial management, maritime boundaries, environmental impact assessment and public water surface occupation and use permits; communication, law and institutions, covering conflict management, resident communication, the Jeju Special Act and international law and maritime boundaries; grid and technology, covering grid connection, transmission facilities, power supply and demand, and wind technology and demonstration; and industry and external cooperation. Jeju Province, Jeju Energy Corporation, Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korea Power Exchange, Jeju National University, the Korea Institute of Energy Research and wind industry experts take part. [ 2 ]
At the first meeting, participants shared the roles of each area and the cooperation structure and discussed tasks to be resolved and the direction of responses, Yonhap reported. The task force plans to share major issues including resident acceptance and difficulties in project implementation, identify tasks for institutional improvement, seek solutions through expert discussion where inter-agency cooperation is needed, and refer matters requiring institutional change to the government and relevant agencies, while reflecting industry views in policy and projects. [ 2 ]
Governor Wi Sung-gon said Jeju was the region that first opened offshore wind and has abundant wind resources, and that “this resource should be developed so that it can contribute to the national energy industry,” according to Yonhap. He said work would first be pushed forward in earnest with Chuja offshore wind, and asked for efforts so that Jeju offshore wind’s national grid connection can be reflected in the 12th Electricity Supply and Demand Basic Plan. He also asked that the task of accelerating domestic demonstration of floating offshore wind and the question of a power tariff system suited to renewable energy be examined together. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
Jeju has been the first region in South Korea to open offshore wind development, and the province is seeking a national grid connection for those projects, so the task force’s work could shape how the government and state utilities handle similar bottlenecks elsewhere. The governor’s calls on the 12th Electricity Supply and Demand Basic Plan and on power tariffs for renewables touch national energy policy that the province does not set on its own. The documents give no decisions on those requests.
Key facts
- Jeju Province held the launch ceremony and first meeting of the Jeju Offshore Wind Promotion Support Task Force on Oct 6 at the provincial government building. [ 2 ]
- The task force is meant to jointly respond to major issues that arise during offshore wind projects, including permitting, grid connection and maritime boundaries. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The task force is headed by Vice Governor for Climate Economy Lee Chang-heum and has 17 members in five areas: general and project management, marine and environment, communication, law and institutions, grid and technology, and industry and external cooperation. [ 2 ]
- Participants include Jeju Province, Jeju Energy Corporation, Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korea Power Exchange, Jeju National University, the Korea Institute of Energy Research and wind industry experts. [ 2 ]
- Governor Wi Sung-gon said Jeju has been the first region to open offshore wind and has abundant wind resources, and asked that Chuja offshore wind be the first to be pushed forward. [ 2 ]
- Wi asked that Jeju offshore wind’s national grid connection be reflected in the 12th Electricity Supply and Demand Basic Plan and that domestic demonstration of floating offshore wind be accelerated. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- What the first meeting concluded beyond sharing each area’s role and the cooperation structure and discussing tasks and response directions. Only Yonhap describes the meeting’s agenda, and no decisions or outcomes are reported.
- Whether Jeju offshore wind’s national grid connection will be included in the 12th Electricity Supply and Demand Basic Plan. The report states only that the governor asked for this; no decision is reported.
- Whether the power tariff system for renewables will be reviewed or changed. The governor asked for this to be examined, and no response is reported.
- The capacity, number of projects or schedule of Jeju’s offshore wind build-out. Neither document gives figures or timelines beyond the reference to starting with Chuja offshore wind.