Clean energy is a job creator. If anyone says otherwise (or says that limiting fossil fuel pollution kills jobs), they are either smoking some serious crack or are members of the polluter-funded Tea Party (or both). Everyone else on the planet knows this. And, as I've reported perhaps too many times on here, cleantech is expected to be a leading factor in which countries come out on top of the global economy in the years to come. If you want to improve the economy, support clean energy!
"The South Korean government and businesses aim to bolster their share in the world's renewable energy market to 18 percent by 2030, and create 1.5 million jobs to cut reliance on fossil fuels," Bloomberg News reported yesterday. "The government selected solar and wind power, fuel cells, biogas, energy storage and nuclear energy as 15 key 'green energy' industries to provide technology research support to companies, the Knowledge Economy Ministry said in an e-mailed statement that carried details of a 20-year roadmap."
In total, the plan is projected to create 1.5 million jobs by 2030, generate 328 trillion won ($304 billion) from exporting clean energy technology, and generate 94 trillion won ($87 billion) in domestic sales. Of course, this would also considerably reduce the carbon emissions of Asia's 4th-largest economy.
Current State of Renewable Energy Affairs & Growth in South Korea
Currently, South Korea has a 1.2% share of the world's renewable energy market, so a leap to taking 18% of the market is a pretty huge deal and must involve some strong renewable energy policies and private sector investments.
Testament to the country's plans, though, it's clear governmental support for renewable energy over the past few years has already had a strong impact on the business environment. Companies "invested 3.56 trillion won in 2010, compared with 719 billion won in 2007.... Their sales from clean energy rose to 8.1 trillion won in 2010 from 1.25 trillion won in 2007."
You might remember this chart I shared a few months back on green stimulus packages in different countries - notice South Korea's pie in the bottom right corner.
