Environment ministry seeks villages for biomass energy self-reliance drive

The environment ministry said it will hold an Aug. 24 briefing for local governments on a competition to develop villages that produce and use energy from biomass. The event at SpaceShare Seoul Station in Yongsan District is intended to improve local governments' understanding of the program and encourage their interest and participation.

The competition opened Aug. 20 and calls for systems that turn food waste, livestock manure and other organic waste into biogas and waste heat.

Villages would use locally produced biogas and waste heat for heating and greenhouse crop cultivation, while sharing proceeds from electricity generation. Selected candidate sites can receive up to 500 million won ($358,938) in national funding for initial plans and designs, covering 50% of the cost. The ministry also plans to support the cost of installing energy-production and -use facilities.

Applications close Sept. 11, after which an evaluation committee of internal and external experts will select at least five candidate sites.

The Korea Environment Corp.'s biogas center will conduct field inspections and offer individual consultations to local governments that need help completing applications. The ministry also plans to develop standard models for the villages by year-end to help local governments and communities planning locally tailored projects.

"Biomass-based energy self-reliant villages will serve as a key link in the cycle of turning waste resources into energy and will bring vitality to local communities," Kim Go-eung, director general for resource circulation at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, said.