World's largest solar power plant to rise in Korea

Renault Samsung Motors will convert the parking lots and rooftops of its Busan factory into the world’s largest solar power plant.

The Busan Shinho Solar Plant will be located on the 300,000 square-meter wasteland within the 500,000 square-meter factory site of the car maker.

A budget of 56 billion won or $49.1 million will be poured into its completion in the coming months.

The new Busan plant with a 20-megawatt capacity will become the world’s largest facility of its kind and the first one being attempted in Korea, RSM officials said.

When the installation of solar panels is completed within the year as scheduled, the officials said that the production could start as early as next January.

The plant will supply 24.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity every year to the neighboring 7,500 households, which means CO2 emission cuts of 13,000 tons annually, they added.

“Renault Samsung Motors is leading the environmental vehicle industry. We will continue to carry out more eco-friendly projects on alternative energy,” RSM CEO Francois Provost said during the ground-breaking ceremony held in Busan on Monday.

“We will be a role model of alternative energy development for many local and overseas companies,” he said.

For more.