Korea seeks to gain international certification for wind power system

Korea is striving to gain international certification for its homegrown wind power generation system by attracting an international gathering led by the International Electrotechnical Commission, an organization that certifies renewable energy technologies.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday, government officials and industry experts from around the world launched a discussion on Jejudo Island on the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Application (IECRE). 

During the five-day event, participants will discuss details of IECRE with a goal of launching the international standards for renewable energy technology after one or two years of preparation.

The Korea Energy Agency and the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, the ministry’s affiliated organization, will examine the process of adopting the IECRE System in Korea, a ministry official said.

IEC will also hold a technical committee meeting on wind power generation systems known as TC 88, according to the ministry. At the meeting, the layout of floating offshore wind turbines, designed by Korean industrial companies, will be discussed as well.

The ministry hopes that the standards will be implemented internationally in the future.

If that goes through, Korean shipbuilding and offshore construction companies will gain significant benefits in the global renewable energy market, the ministry said.

Despite low oil prices, renewable energy capacity is growing fast with a worldwide increase of 14 percent in gigawatts from last year, and investments surpassing $354 billion this year, according to Export-Import Bank of Korea.

By Hong Sung-pyo (hong1@heraldcorp.com)