From blackout to green power: S. Korean island races to go carbon-free

Jeju, South Korea's southernmost island, is making significant strides towards becoming a carbon-free island. In the early 2000s, the island faced a complete blackout due to a malfunction in undersea cables from the mainland, prompting it to pursue energy independence. The province's Energy Industry Division set a goal to become a carbon-free island by 2030, focusing on renewable energy sources such as wind and sun.

By the end of 2025, renewables already accounted for 24.3 percent of the island's power supply, the highest in the nation, compared to 10.6 percent for South Korea as a whole in 2024. Additionally, Jeju leads the country in EV adoption, with EVs accounting for 11.9 percent of total vehicles, nearly three times the national average.

The island's dense charging network, comprising 28,000 stations, has played a crucial role in this transition. Moreover, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are emerging as a promising next step, with their superior power and range compared to electric buses. However, the main obstacle remains the lack of hydrogen refueling stations on the island.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.