Gov't to spend big on reusable energy infrastructure By Lee Joon-seung

SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- The government said Tuesday it will pour 111.5 trillion won (US$88.7 billion) over the next two decades into developing high-tech reusable energy infrastructure and technology.

The 2009-2030 national energy basic road map aims to increase reusable, clean
energy output to 11 percent of total power generation by the target year from
around 2.4 percent at present, the Ministry for Knowledge Economy said.
The ministry in charge of the country's energy policy said that 100 trillion won
of the total amount to be spent by 2030 would go into building up the necessary
infrastructure, with the remainder earmarked for research and development (R&D).
The plan also calls for the government to cover 39.2 trillion won of total costs
with 7.2 trillion won of that amount to go into R&D efforts.
The latest masterplan outlines steady gains in reusable energy output with
efforts made to cut prices and improve the quality of solar power cells, wind
generation equipment and solar heating systems. Relatively high initial costs of
setting up power generation facilities and the poor quality of power they produce
has been the major stumbling blocks in developing reusable energy.
The ministry said South Korea will try to develop third generation solar power
cells with high energy conversion rates by 2020, while 5 megawatt-type large wind
generators are to be made by 2016.
The ministry, meanwhile, said exports of locally made reusable energy systems are
expected to surge by 110 percent annually this year to US$1.2 billion, with
overall sales growth reaching 117 percent to 2.2 trillion won from just 1
trillion won in 2007.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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