Busan Port Authority pursues designation of Busan Port as a distributed energy special zone

[Financial News] The Busan Port Authority (BPA) said on the 2nd that it will launch a consulting project to develop a strategy for designating Busan Port as a distributed energy special zone, in a bid to raise the port’s energy self-sufficiency and accelerate its transition to an eco-friendly port.
A distributed energy special zone is an area designated under the Special Act on Activation of Distributed Energy to promote energy production and consumption at the local level and encourage the efficient use of distributed energy. Once an area is designated as a special zone, regulatory exemptions apply, including allowing distributed energy providers to sell the electricity they generate directly to consumers.
The authority plans to establish a local-production-and-local-consumption energy system, in which energy generated at the port is consumed directly there, by expanding solar power generation in port hinterland areas and introducing wind power generation when the area is designated as a special zone. It also plans to lay the groundwork for the future designation of Busan Port as a distributed energy special zone.
The project will focus on analyzing domestic and international trends and case studies in distributed energy; developing plans for electricity demand and supply at Busan Port; identifying port-specific business models; assessing project feasibility and identifying regulatory exemptions; and identifying participating businesses and supporting their selection.
The authority expects the project to help flesh out a distributed energy activation model suited to Busan Port and establish a systematic foundation for future designation by closely coordinating with Busan City’s initiative to pursue a distributed energy special zone. 
The authority’s president, Song Sang-geun, said, “Designating a distributed energy special zone is one of the important steps toward making Busan Port an energy self-sufficient port. We will identify Busan Port’s distinctive competitive strengths and develop an effective strategy.”
[email protected] Kwon Byeong-seok Reporter