바닷바람도 돈이다?! 재생에너지 계의 ‘슈퍼 루키’가 바로 해상풍력! 그 이유는? [다큐온 KBS 20200718 방송]

■ An era of great energy transition! A new wind of change is blowing through "offshore wind power." Some men are heading out to sea from Gyeokpo Port in Buan, Jeollabuk-do. They dock their boats in the middle of the west coast and climb aboard a massive, 100-meter-tall offshore wind turbine! Twenty offshore wind turbines spin above the magnificent sea, marking the "Southwest Sea Offshore Wind Farm," Korea's largest offshore wind farm. Built 18.5km from Gyeokpo Port in Buan and 9.6km offshore Gochang's Gusipo Port, the Southwest Sea Offshore Wind Farm began construction in 2011 and has been generating commercial electricity since January of this year. Its power output is 60MW, enough to power 50,000 households annually. After completing the current demonstration phase and the pilot and expansion phases, it will generate 2.5GW annually (equivalent to the power of 2.5 nuclear power plants). In the future, it will generate enough electricity to power 1.7 million households in South and North Jeolla Provinces for a year. To reduce the loss of generated electricity, the country's first offshore substation was built. To mitigate the loss of fishing opportunities for nearby fishermen, cutting-edge technologies such as 360-degree thermal imaging cameras, IP tracking, and warning broadcasting systems were implemented. Unlike onshore wind power, offshore wind power is a renewable energy source that generates electricity by harnessing the strong sea breezes. However, because the power plant is built on the sea, the investment in the Southwest Sea offshore wind farm to date has reached approximately 366.2 billion won. While renewable energy is seen as a solution to fossil fuel depletion and global warming, why are the government, developers, and companies focusing on offshore wind power, spending astronomical sums of money? Compared to the energy sources we have relied on so far, its limitations become clear. Thermal power plants impact the environment with exhaust fumes and fine dust, while nuclear power plants have limitations, such as the risk of nuclear waste and the double-edged sword of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. While the need for a transition to renewable energy is clear, "onshore renewable energy," which has persisted for over 40 years, frequently involves cutting mountains and damaging nature on small land areas, as evidenced by solar and onshore wind power. Furthermore, there are frequent complaints about electromagnetic waves and noise. ■ Offshore wind power is attracting global attention! Finding solutions in the UK, home to the world's largest offshore wind farm - Brighton's Rampion Offshore Wind Farm & Humber's Hornsea 1 Offshore Wind Farm As of 2020, the UK, the world's leading producer of offshore wind power, produces 9.7 GW of offshore wind power alone. This amount is equivalent to the installed capacity of 10 nuclear power plants. Why is the UK focusing on offshore wind power? Brighton, a leading resort town on the southeastern coast, has recently been transformed into a new tourist destination. This transformation began in 2018 with the opening of the 400MW Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, featuring 116 wind turbines. Paul, a local who previously ran a fishing boat, has seen his income increase by incorporating offshore wind tours, and visitors are returning with a heightened awareness of renewable energy. Humber, a port city near the North Sea in northeast England, is home to Hornsea One, the world's largest offshore wind farm. With 174 offshore wind turbines generating 1.2 GW of electricity, the area once enjoyed a golden age as a hub for the steel and coal industries and logistics, but experienced a downturn in the 2000s. However, the local economy is experiencing a revival since the British government partnered with Ørsted, a Danish state-owned enterprise and global offshore wind farm developer, to build the world's largest offshore wind farm. What these two cities have in common is that from the very beginning of discussions about building offshore wind farms, the three parties—residents, businesses, and the government—communicated transparently and sought solutions. By attracting offshore wind farms, the government provided quality jobs to local residents, and the developer donates a portion of the power generated annually to local organizations as a fund to foster a shared growth with local communities. ■ Voices Opposing Offshore Wind Power! Can a Wind of Coexistence Blow? Jeju Island, known for its abundance of wind, water, and women, has a region that has discovered added value in Jeju's wind. This is the Tamra Offshore Wind Farm, Korea's first commercially operated wind farm since 2017, with ten offshore wind turbines spanning 2.7km off the coast of Dumori and Geumdeung-ri in Hangyeong-myeon, generating 30MW of electricity. Even 11 years ago, before construction began, local residents voiced opposition. The reasons for this opposition stem from issues that have plagued o...