Going forward, offshore wind power projects will adopt a planned site designation system under which the government pre-identifies suitable locations, and permitting procedures will be processed in a unified manner through an integrated, pan-governmental body.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE, Minister Kim Sungwhan) announced that the Enforcement Decree of the “Special Act on the Promotion of Offshore Wind Power Deployment and the Development of Related Industries” (Special Wind Power Act) was approved at the Cabinet meeting on March 17 and will take effect on March 26. This enforcement decree sets out detailed implementation guidelines for the Special Wind Power Act enacted last year.

Previously, offshore wind power projects were carried out by individual private developers who identified sites and pursued permitting, but going forward, the system will be fully restructured into a government-led “planned site” framework. 

Accordingly, the government plans to minimize uncertainties arising from power grid constraints, military operational considerations, community acceptance, and complex permitting procedures, while promoting the orderly development and deployment of offshore wind power.

This enforcement decree stipulates detailed operational criteria for the offshore wind planned site system, including the composition and operation of the Offshore Wind Power Committee, procedures for designating preliminary offshore wind zones, the establishment and operation of public-private consultative bodies, procedures for selecting offshore wind project developers, and environmental review procedures.

< Key Provisions of the Special Wind Power Act >

The core of the Special Wind Power Act, which is being implemented this time, is the strengthening of the government’s public responsibility across the entire offshore wind project lifecycle.

First, a new “Offshore Wind Power Committee” will be established under the Prime Minister to coordinate inter-ministerial differences and deliberate and decide on key policies related to the planned site system, including the designation of preliminary zones and development zones.

Second, the government will proactively identify and assess suitable offshore wind sites. It will designate “preliminary zones” by comprehensively considering wind conditions, impacts on fisheries and the environment, and maritime traffic conditions, and will subsequently them as “development zones” after reviewing economic feasibility, public acceptance, and grid capacity.

Third, if selected as a project developer within a designated development zone, the permitting procedures under relevant laws can be processed in an integrated manner, thereby improving the efficiency of project implementation.

Fourth, measures have been established to secure public acceptance led by local governments. Through the operation of public-private consultative bodies, local governments will discuss ways to ensure community acceptance and share benefits, and it is mandated that more than half of the members be composed of fishermen and local resident representatives.

< Future Implementation Plan >

The government plans to initiate follow-up measures for system implementation starting from the law’s effective date on March 26.

First, the government plans to promptly establish the Offshore Wind Power Committee and its working-level committee to build a pan-governmental coordination framework.

Second, in cooperation with relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and local governments, the government plans to identify candidate sites for the first round of preliminary zones within the year, taking into account offshore wind site conditions and the commitment of local governments to project development.

Third, subordinate regulations delegated by the Act, covering detailed criteria for environmental assessments and standards for incorporating existing developers and designated cluster zones, will be prepared in stages within the year.

Minister Kim Sungwhan stated, “With the implementation of the Special Wind Power Act, the offshore wind development approach, previously led by individual developers, will shift to a planned site system in which the government assumes responsibility for management.” He added, “Amid growing uncertainty in the international energy security environment, including the recent situation in the Middle East, expanding renewable energy is a key foundation for strengthening energy security. Going forward, we will systematically expand offshore wind power while ensuring environmental integrity and public acceptance, and enabling communities and local regions to share in the benefits.”

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