The need for clean, renewable energy is ever increasing.
That's why a growing number of people are trying to convert their land to solar farms,
generating power instead of produce.
In our news features tonight, Oh Jung-hee brings to light the benefits of this transition,...
as well as some of the obstacles standing in the way.
Standing at the center of the Korean government's nuclear-free, low-carbon energy plan... is
a need to increase the production and supply of renewable, clean energy... from the current
4-point-8 percent to 20-percent by 2030.
Solar farming -- producing electricity at farms that aren't in use -- is a much discussed
possible solution.
Because 10-percent of Korea's farmland is left idle and installing solar panels doesn't
harm the farms' ecosystem... farms are quickly becoming places of electricity generation.
Additional profit from selling solar energy also helps farmers earn more.
"This farm has solar panels installed quite high above the ground,... distanced from each
other to minimize their impact on the growth of rice plants below."
Farmer Jung Ki-seop manages two farms of the same size, but one with solar panels and the
other without.
It's been a month and a half since he planted the rice crops... and he says, he can already
see that installing solar panels above rice plants doesn't necessarily lead to a large
drop in total yield.
"I was really suspicious at first because installing solar panels would make shade.
I was worried.
But, as I now compare the rice plants below the solar panels with those not under the
panels...
they both grow well.
In fact, those under the solar panels grow better."
The farm fulfills its role in producing sufficient electricity, though the amount could differ
depending on weather each day.
The target amount is 350 kilowatt hours a day... and the farm produced over 500 kilowatt
hours of electricity the day before we had visited.
"All plants have a light saturation point, for rice its 70-percent.
That means only 70-percent of the sunlight helps rice plants to grow, and the excess
sunlight doesn't help much.
So our idea is to use the remaining 30-percent to produce solar energy."
Solar farming can be an attractive option for farmers, but it could cause problems if
it draws in too many farmers and too much land,... possibly leading to food security
concerns and even conflicts between those farmers who earn more through solar farming
and those who don't.
So experts suggest learning from Japan's case: letting farmers continue with solar farming
ONLY IF they maintain their crop yield at over 80-percent of their original yield.
And regional bodies should also play a pivotal role to bring the benefits of solar farming
equally to everyone.
"If solar farming is to work, then the residents and the regional bodies will all have to participate.
Residents should invest together and the regional governments will have to provide direct or
indirect financial assistance to make sure they and their residents receive fair amount
of profits."
Solar farming is only in its early stages in Korea,... and the Korean government is
considering allowing the building of renewable energy facilities at farming-only areas.
A clear plan on that is wanted as soon as possible... to maximize the benefits of solar
farming and to tackle any concerns.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.