Seoul to investigate previous government’s renewable energy projects

Floating solar power plant [Photo by Kim Jae-hoon]

South Korean government will launch an investigation into the efficacy of the solar power and other renewable energy projects undertaken in the past five years under the previous government.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy posted a job opening for researchers who will analyze the efficacy of about 40 solar power and other renewable energy projects that were on government budgets for the past five years.

The investigation will likely start early next year to analyze project financing and R&D support to emissions reduction, employment and technological development and power generation to find how effective they have been carried out.

In September, the Office for Government Policy Coorindation conducted a sample survey of 12 local governments and found that more than 261.6 billion won ($201.3 million) of taxpayer funds had been mismanaged solar power and renewable energy projects under the previous government.

The ruling and opposition parties have since reached an agreement to have an objective assessment of the project efficacy.