Gyeonggi Province Develops 'Water System Fund Solar Income Villages' in 6 Municipalities Upstream from Paldang Dam

Gyeonggi Province has begun supporting renewable energy projects totaling 21.9 billion won applied by six municipalities upstream from Paldang Dam—Yongin, Gwangju, Icheon, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, and Gapyeong—so they can be selected in the Han River Water System Management Committee recruitment.

If selected, residents in water source restriction areas can earn income from solar power generation and reduce electricity and heating bills without bearing any additional costs.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 10th that six municipalities in the province applied for renewable energy projects totaling 21.9 billion won in late July for the "2027 Renewable Energy Special Resident Support Project" being promoted by the Han River Water System Management Committee. By municipality, the application amounts are: Gapyeong County 5.7 billion won, Yangpyeong County 5.6 billion won, Yeoju City 5 billion won, Icheon City 3.1 billion won, Gwangju City 2.4 billion won, and Yongin City 100 million won.

The Renewable Energy Special Resident Support Project aims to install renewable energy facilities such as solar power and heat pumps in water source management areas to provide income to residents and reduce electricity and heating bills. The recruitment targets include Gyeonggi Province, North Chungcheong Province, Gangwon Province, and Seoul City. A total budget of 22.1 billion won has been allocated, with evaluations scheduled for September and funding to be distributed in order of highest scores. Unlike existing projects led by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the Water System Fund Solar Income Village offers 100% support with no resident co-payments.

Support projects are divided into three categories: developing "Water System Fund Solar Income Villages" that generate resident income through solar power generation, providing support for individual household solar panels and heat pump installations, and providing heat pump installation support for communal facilities such as village halls. Heat pumps are high-efficiency equipment that provides heating and cooling by utilizing heat from the air or ground.

Gyeonggi Province is operating a joint support system with experts from water resources and energy departments and the Korea Energy Agency participating to ensure that as many projects as possible from the six municipalities are selected. On the 6th, the province conducted business plan consultations with municipal officials. Experts from the Korea Energy Agency explained evaluation criteria and key review matters for the recruitment, and verified the technical validity and feasibility of submitted projects.

Going forward, Gyeonggi Province plans to respond to the review process of the Han River Water System Management Committee and continue supporting the municipalities until the final selection scheduled for mid-September.

Kim Yeon-ji, director of the Energy Industry Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We will support residents who have endured regulations for a long time to protect water sources so they can earn income and reduce electricity and heating bills through renewable energy projects. Together with the Water Resources Headquarters and the Korea Energy Agency, we will actively support the projects from the six municipalities to be selected as much as possible."