Keywords: renewable energy region, 100% renewable energy self sufficiency region.
Dongwang Village, Jeju-do Island, South Korea
Dongwang is the first self sufficient energy village in the world.[1] It is located in the west of Jeju-do Island, the biggest southern island in South Korea (Figure 1).[2] This semi-tropical village takes benefit from the solar energy to fulfill their electricity demand.[1]
Figure 1. Dongwang Village in Jeju-do Island, South Korea[1]
In every roof of the house (40 houses) and roof of the school are installed big solar panels (Figure 2). Every house has different capacity of solar panel. This program is developed in 2004. The government covered 70% of the installation cost. The reason of development this program is environmental issues. The people in Dongwang realize that environmental is very important issues. With this technology, currently the inhabitant use free electricity every day.[1] Due to solar panels covered almost the entire area and most of inhabitant get electricity from solar panels, this city is also popular as "Solar Town".[3]
Figure 2. Big solar panel (2.1 kW) in the roof of the house[1]
Jeju-do Island also has a large wind farm. In 2008, the local government announced their plan to raise the island's wind power generation capacity to 500 megawatt (MW) by 2020. It is aimed to replace 20% conventionally generated electricity and 26% existing fuel used in transportation to be environmentally friendly fuel.[3]
This village has a motto "A clean city - clean island". They don't have many factories. The inhabitant enjoy nice and clean air. They are trying to have a clean city with solar panels and windmills. Now, they are still struggling to accomplish total energy independence with clean technology. Dongwang is in a state of the art of renewable energy village.[2]
Deungryong Village, North Jeolla Province's Buan County, KoreaThe town Deungryong is located in Jangsin-Ri of Haseo-Myeon, a sub division of North Jeolla Province's Buan County. This town is typically agriculture village (Figure 3). There are about 30 households, total population is around 50.[4]
Figure 3. Deungryong village[4]
Deungryong village is aimed to become self sufficiency on energy. Established in February 2005, Buan Civil Power selected Deungryong as a prototype of energy self-sufficient village and has taken steps toward it. Buan civil power plant relocated here as well as the office and education center of the 'Life Peace Priming Water'. Those with the same aspirations are helping the locals push forward mid and long term programs to establish an energy self sufficient village.[4]
First of all, Buan Civil Power Plant started operating the Solar Power plant-1. A power plant built in October 2005. By the winter in 2006, geothermal heating and cooling system, which produce up to 35RT was installed. This system provides air-conditioning to four buildings including residential households and education center. By 2008, the total electricity generated from solar energy reached 36 kW in Deungryong. This is due to the local community's participation in a program to 'install photovoltaic panels on roofs of 100 thousand homes'. The number of civil people which funded Solar Power Plant rose. It is contributed to the total of community involved.[4]
Deungryong village which declared its energy self-sufficiency, places its emphasis on energy savings, energy efficiency, and transition to renewable energy. In order to reach this goal, it is aimed to cut more than 30% of its total energy use and replace 50% of its total energy use with solar energy, wind power (Figure 4), and biomass.[4]
Figure 4. Installation of wind turbine[4]
Decreasing 10% of the total energy use in village
In 2008, Buan Civil Power Plant set up a more detailed objective: an annual decrease of 10% of energy use. Every household have changed their incandescent light bulbs into high energy efficient. They use switchable power bars with multiple sockets to reduce standby power.[4]
School of forest, the wind, and the sun
From summer in 2008, this school is opened to provides a learning experience relating to renewable energy. The school has built a solar photovoltaic power generator and it is equipped with a solar cooker. It uses wind and kinetic energy through generators powered by wind and bicycle pedaling. It has installed a water turbine in addition to methane collection and flaring system. People will take part in out door education programs related to the use of renewable energy. They will also get knowledge on how to generate and cook with renewable energy. Activities such as 'living without electricity' using candlelight during the night and watching movies with self generated electricity are available also.[4]
Making generators powered by wind and bicycle pedaling
Generators powered by bicycle pedaling can overcome the weather restrictions other renewable energy generators have. In order to make small wind generator (Figure 5), they carved propellers out wood, wounds the coils onto the magnet, and attached it to the generator. Producing up to 500W, this generator was constructed by their own. It has been installed in 'SiSu', a school of environmental studies in the Deungryong village. This will help Deungryong village's energy self sufficiency and educating children about renewable energy.[4]
Figure 5. A small wind generator[4]
List of References
- Desa Mandiri Energi Pertama Dunia (World First Self Sufficient Energy Village). http://kunaifi.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/desa-mandiri-energi-pertama-dunia-world-first-self-sufficient-energy-village/. Accessed October 28, 2009.
- South Korean Solar System Community on Jeju Island a Brilliant Idea. http://ecoworldly.com/2008/05/09/south-korean-solar-system-community-on-jeju-island-a-brilliant-idea/. Accessed October 28, 2009.
- Korean Village Runs on 100% Solar Power. http://www.enn.com/energy/article/36133. Accessed October 28, 2009.
- Energy Self-Sufficient Village at Deungryong, Buan. http://green-korea.tistory.com/83. Accessed August 23, 2009.
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