A new initiative combining agriculture and solar power has officially launched in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 30 at Songjuk Village in Hyunmae-ri, Anseong, for the 'Seoul Metropolitan Area Agricultural Solar Power Pilot Project.'
The event was attended by Kim Jeong-wook, Director of the Agricultural Industry Innovation Policy Office at the Ministry, along with local officials from Gyeonggi Province and Anseong City, and the chairman of the Hyunmae-ri Songjuk Energy Cooperative, who toured the construction site and gathered feedback from residents.
Agricultural solar power involves cultivating crops while simultaneously generating solar energy. In Songjuk Village, the cooperative will take the lead in decisions regarding land leasing, permits, contractor selection, and post-construction operations and revenue utilization. This model is expected to address rural decline and diversify farm income by ensuring that the profits from energy generation are fully allocated to the farmers and the community.
The government has provided comprehensive support to help the cooperative become self-sufficient. An advisory group composed of local governments, the Korea Rural Community Corporation, and the Korea Energy Agency has closely assisted with everything from drafting bylaws to leasing agricultural land and preparing permit documents.
Once operational, the Songjuk Village solar power facility is projected to generate 1 megawatt of electricity, creating revenue that will be used to fund community activities such as communal meals and welfare programs for the elderly.
The Ministry plans to support the construction of similar projects in Hwaseong City following this pilot initiative in Anseong, with the aim of expanding the resident-participation model nationwide based on the outcomes of this project.
Kim Jeong-wook emphasized, "The groundbreaking in Songjuk Village marks the first step in realizing an agricultural solar power model that creates new income sources while preserving farmland. We will strengthen institutional support by reflecting the voices from the field."
The event was attended by Kim Jeong-wook, Director of the Agricultural Industry Innovation Policy Office at the Ministry, along with local officials from Gyeonggi Province and Anseong City, and the chairman of the Hyunmae-ri Songjuk Energy Cooperative, who toured the construction site and gathered feedback from residents.
Agricultural solar power involves cultivating crops while simultaneously generating solar energy. In Songjuk Village, the cooperative will take the lead in decisions regarding land leasing, permits, contractor selection, and post-construction operations and revenue utilization. This model is expected to address rural decline and diversify farm income by ensuring that the profits from energy generation are fully allocated to the farmers and the community.
The government has provided comprehensive support to help the cooperative become self-sufficient. An advisory group composed of local governments, the Korea Rural Community Corporation, and the Korea Energy Agency has closely assisted with everything from drafting bylaws to leasing agricultural land and preparing permit documents.
Once operational, the Songjuk Village solar power facility is projected to generate 1 megawatt of electricity, creating revenue that will be used to fund community activities such as communal meals and welfare programs for the elderly.
The Ministry plans to support the construction of similar projects in Hwaseong City following this pilot initiative in Anseong, with the aim of expanding the resident-participation model nationwide based on the outcomes of this project.
Kim Jeong-wook emphasized, "The groundbreaking in Songjuk Village marks the first step in realizing an agricultural solar power model that creates new income sources while preserving farmland. We will strengthen institutional support by reflecting the voices from the field."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.