The city signed MOUs with nine institutions after its industrial complex was selected for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 2026 energy self-sufficiency infrastructure project
Daejeon is moving ahead with plans to build an energy self-sufficient industrial complex after its Daejeon Industrial Complex and affiliated complexes were selected in July for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 2026 energy self-sufficiency infrastructure project.
The city held a launch ceremony Tuesday at the Daejeon Culture Complex in Daehwa-dong, Daedeok-gu, to formally kick off the "Daejeon Smart Green Industrial Complex Energy Self-Sufficiency Infrastructure Construction and Operation Project."
At the ceremony, nine institutions — comprising project implementing and dedicated agencies — signed MOUs and fired the starting gun on the initiative.
The project carries a total budget of 33.46 billion won ($24.9 million) — 20 billion won in national funds, 3 billion won from the city, and 10.46 billion won from the private sector — and runs through December 2029. The goal is to expand the industrial complex's renewable energy and energy management infrastructure, raise its energy self-sufficiency rate, and help tenant companies meet RE100 and carbon neutrality targets.
About 60 people attended the event, including representatives from Daejeon city, the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation's Chungcheong regional headquarters as the dedicated agency, the Korea Institute of Energy Research as the lead institution, and participating agencies and companies — Korea Western Power Co., Geonyang Electric Power, SKS-E, Geumgang Electric Industry, Daejeon Technopark and the Daejeon Industrial Complex Management Corporation — as well as officials from tenant companies.
Under the MOUs, the nine institutions will cooperate on mutual collaboration and joint outcomes for the project, building renewable energy infrastructure for tenant companies and exchanging technology and information, identifying linked projects to achieve carbon neutrality and RE100 goals at the industrial complex, and promoting key results and best practices. Daejeon city will back the project with municipal funding and administrative support.
Key components include building distributed energy infrastructure with more than 13 megawatts of solar capacity — including demonstrations of building-integrated photovoltaics and solar thermal new technologies — establishing an AI-based integrated energy management system, linking ESS and electric vehicle charging facilities, and supporting tenant companies on RE100 compliance, carbon reduction and energy efficiency.
A standout feature is the introduction of a "sunshine income" model, under which revenue generated from renewable energy produced at the complex is returned to tenant companies and workers, creating a mutually beneficial energy self-sufficiency model that recirculates the benefits of energy production back into the local community. If the project proceeds as planned, it is expected to cut cumulative greenhouse gas emissions by about 5,723 tons by 2029.
Moon In-hwan, director of Daejeon's People's Economy Bureau, said the project marks an important turning point in transforming the Daejeon Industrial Complex from a space that merely consumes energy into a smart green industrial complex that produces and efficiently uses renewable energy. "With 20 billion won in national funds and 3 billion won in city funds committed, we will provide active support to ensure the project proceeds without a hitch," he said. He added that the city aims to build a sustainable industrial complex model in which the benefits of energy production flow through to businesses, workers and the local community via sunshine income, while also supporting tenant companies in meeting their RE100 commitments.
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
