Today, the international community faces a grave environmental crisis characterized by rising global average temperatures, extreme weather patterns, and rising sea levels due to climate change. This climate crisis has evolved beyond a mere environment...
Today, the international community faces a grave environmental crisis characterized by rising global average temperatures, extreme weather patterns, and rising sea levels due to climate change. This climate crisis has evolved beyond a mere environmental issue to profoundly impact human survival and the sustainability of economy and society at large. Consequently, the global community is engaged in multifaceted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.
In line with these global trends, South Korea declared its '2050 Carbon Neutrality Goal' on October 28, 2020, followed by the proclamation of the '2050 Carbon Neutrality Vision' on December 10 of the same year. Furthermore, the Renewable Energy Mandatory Installation Roadmap for Public Buildings, introduced in 2004, has mandated the installation of renewable energy facilities in public structures. This system aims to promote energy self-sufficiency in public buildings, encourage its expansion into the private sector, and ultimately achieve the national goal of '2050 Carbon Neutrality.
From 2006 to 2023, a total of 6,469 systems were installed under the 'Renewable Energy Mandatory Installation Roadmap for Public Institutions,' showing an overall upward trend. Among these, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems accounted for the largest share at 71.0%. This study analyzed actual solar PV power generation data over a two-year period (2022–2023) from educational and research facilities located in Gyeongsangnam-do. Although these facilities were designed to supply 32% of their total estimated energy consumption through renewable energy in compliance with regulatory standards, an analysis of actual PV system data revealed that the contribution remained at only approximately 5% of the total energy consumption.
This discrepancy is analyzed as a result of complex factors, including actual operating conditions of the PV systems, module degradation and soiling, and seasonal variations in solar irradiance. In particular, the rise in module temperatures due to high summer temperatures led to a decrease in power generation efficiency, while reduced output was observed in winter due to insufficient irradiance. Consequently, the current approach of applying a uniform mandatory ratio without sufficient consideration of regional and building-specific characteristics makes it difficult to reflect actual energy self-sufficiency effects. In the future, it is deemed necessary to establish customized installation standards that account for regional irradiance conditions and specific building characteristics.