Seoul, South Korea – The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced plans to significantly expand the district heating supply and transition to clean energy sources by 2028. This initiative is part of the 6th Basic Plan for District Energy Supply (2024-2028), which was unveiled at a public hearing held in Seoul on January 14, 2024.

The plan aims to increase the number of households receiving district heating to 4.46 million by 2028, up from 3.78 million in 2023. This expansion will bring district heating to 21.3% of all households in Korea. Additionally, the number of industrial complexes utilizing district energy is projected to rise from 45 in 2023 to 54 by 2028.

In line with the global push for decarbonization, the plan emphasizes the transition to clean energy sources. MOTIE outlined several key strategies to achieve this goal, including:

Promoting the use of untapped heat sources: The ministry will establish new criteria for designating areas that can utilize untapped heat sources, such as waste heat from industrial processes.
Developing a clean energy roadmap: MOTIE will create a comprehensive roadmap for transitioning to clean energy sources for district heating.
Introducing a renewable heat energy certification system: The Renewable Heat Energy Certificate (RHC) system will be introduced to incentivize the use of renewable energy sources in district heating.
Furthermore, the plan includes pilot projects for Power-to-Heat (P2H) technology, which utilizes surplus renewable electricity to generate heat. Incentives will also be provided for the adoption of heat pumps to utilize low-temperature heat sources.

MOTIE expects the 6th Basic Plan for District Energy Supply to result in significant energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions. Over the five-year period, the plan is projected to save 45 million TOE (Tonnes of Oil Equivalent) of energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 92 million tons.

"This plan marks the beginning of a significant transition towards a low-carbon, high-efficiency, and low-cost heat energy system," said a MOTIE official. "We are confident that this initiative will contribute to Korea's efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable energy development."