Gov't to help build 10 wind power generators by 2010

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The government will place orders to build 10 new
indigenously-made wind power generators to help reduce South Korea's reliance on
imports in the renewable energy sector, officials said Monday.
The 2-to-3 megawatt generators, which are expected to compete commercially with
market-dominating foreign products, will be built on land owned by three
state-run thermal power plants by 2010, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.
A consortium led by Doosan Heavy Industry & Construction Co. and Hyundai Heavy
Industries Co. will be responsible for designing and building the 100-percent
locally developed power plants.
Of the 146 wind power generators currently operating around the country, only one
medium-sized 750 kilowatt unit was made by a South Korean company, a ministry
official said, making this project especially noteworthy.
"At present the country can make 80-90 percent of all parts that go into such
generators, but due to uncertain demand, there has been little incentive to make
indigenous machines," said Kang Nam-hoon, head of the ministry resource
development office.
Due to its inherent inconsistency, wind power -- like solar power and other
eco-friendly energy sources -- continues to face significant barriers to
wide-scale use.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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