Holds interim report meeting on research project for preemptive response to special act on creating renewable energy self-reliant cities

Chungcheongbuk-do is moving to flesh out its Chungbuk-style RE100 strategy linking renewable energy supply with industrial demand, and to formulate implementation plans for establishing a Central Region Hydrothermal Energy RE100 Cluster.

On the 15th, the province held an interim report meeting for the "Chungbuk RE100 Master Plan Establishment Research Project" at the medium conference room on the 4th floor of the Chungbuk Research Institute. Presided over by Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Lee Bok-won, the meeting was attended by industry-academia-research experts and representatives from related organizations.

This meeting was arranged to review the progress of the research project, gather expert opinions on expanding renewable energy supply, supporting corporate RE100 implementation, and promoting region-specific projects.

Although Chungcheongbuk-do hosts high-power-demand cutting-edge industries such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and biotechnology, its electricity self-sufficiency rate stood at 25% in 2025, ranking 13th out of 17 cities and provinces nationwide. The province faces an urgent need to expand its internal renewable energy supply foundation to support corporate RE100 compliance and attract investment.

During the meeting, participants reviewed industry, public, and private sector-specific promotion strategies and industrial complex-specific models based on Chungbuk's RE100 implementation status and conditions. They also exchanged views on renewable energy supply, power grid integration, and phased implementation plans.

In particular, the participants focused on discussing plans to establish the Central Region Hydrothermal Energy RE100 Cluster, which links renewable energy power supply with hydrothermal cooling and heating centered around the Dacheong Dam Hydrothermal Energy Specialized Complex. The vision is to establish a RE100 model utilizing Chungbuk's resources and industrial characteristics by simultaneously promoting clean power supply and energy efficiency improvements.

The provincial government plans to link this master plan with the "Central Region Hydrothermal Energy RE100 Cluster Creation" business agreement signed on July 8 and the "160MW AI Data Center Construction and Power/Eco-friendly Energy Infrastructure Creation Business Agreement within the Dacheong Dam Specialized Complex" signed on September 18, thereby elaborating inter-organizational cooperation and project execution measures.

In addition, the province intends to review the designation and creation of cities, corporate support, and regulatory exceptions under the "Special Act on the Creation and Support of Renewable Energy Self-Reliant Cities" proposed in the National Assembly, in order to formulate a Chungbuk-style self-reliant city designation strategy.

Chungcheongbuk-do plans to comprehensively review the opinions presented at this meeting to enhance the effectiveness of the master plan, utilizing the research results as strategic data for government policy response, securing national funds, and attracting corporate investment.

"To support corporate RE100 implementation, we must simultaneously prepare renewable energy supply, industrial sites, and power grids," said Lee Bok-won, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Chungcheongbuk-do. "Through this master plan, we will concretize promotion strategies tailored to Chungbuk's resources and corporate demand."

He added, "We will faithfully reflect expert opinions and strengthen cooperation with related organizations so that the Central Region Hydrothermal Energy RE100 Cluster, linking renewable energy with the Dacheong Dam and Chungju Dam hydrothermal energy specialized complexes, leads to actual projects and investments."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]