KOREA (REPUBLIC)
The Government actively began to advance renewable
energies when the "Promotion Act for the New and Renewable
Sources of Energy (NRSE) Development" was passed in
1987. However, in order to enhance the development
of NRSE, the law was amended in late-1997 and became
the "Promotion Act for Development, Utilisation and
Dissemination of NRSE". The National PV Program was
incorporated into the Ministry of Commerce, Industry
and Energy’s (MOCIE) "10 Year Development Plan for
Energy Technology, 1997-2006". The goal of the Plan
is to increase the share of NRSE to 2% of total energy
consumption by 2006. The economic problems of the
late-1990’s resulted in a reduction in the R,D&D budgets
but all aspects of the photovoltaic technology sector
have been given the highest priority.
At end-1999 there were 3 459 kWp of installed PV power
of which 92% was off-grid. These applications, which
predominated until 1997, include installations for
private residences, telecommunications, lighthouses,
public lighting, road and aviation signalling etc.
In addition, PV–diesel hybrid systems have been installed
in isolated houses and on remote islands. In recent
years government interest appears to have shifted
to grid-connected systems and various demonstration
projects and field tests have taken place.
Direct use of solar energy is also utilised and by
end-1999 in excess of 200 000 domestic hot water systems,
together with 157 large-scale hot water systems, were
in use.
MEXICO
Mexico’s average solar energy resource is estimated
at 5 kWh/m2/day. There are currently approximately
50 000 isolated PV systems installed throughout the
country in order to provide electricity to rural areas
separated from the grid. They are mainly used for
pumping and domestic and public lighting and also
for powering telephones, microwave repeaters and signalling
systems (both marine and terrestrial). At end-1999
there were 328 000 m2 of flat plate solar collectors
installed, mainly used for water heating for various
purposes.
Country Notes
(SOLAR ENERGY)
Australia || Canada
|| China
|| France
|| Germany
|| India
|| Indonesia
|| Israel
|| Italy
|| Japan
|| Kenya
|| Korea
(Republic) || Mexico
|| Netherlands
|| Norway
|| South
Africa || Spain
|| Switzerland
|| Thailand
|| United
States Of America
