South Korea legalizes agrivoltaics with 30-year permits
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South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) enacted a new law this week establishing a legal framework for agrivoltaics, combining solar energy production with farming, after its passage by the National Assembly in May.
The law allows projects to operate for up to 30 years, replacing a previous eight-year temporary permit system that hindered financing. Local authorities will determine the exact duration for each project through a future presidential decree.
The legislation limits who can operate agrivoltaic projects to local farmers with at least three years of agricultural experience, resident-participation cooperatives of ten or more people, or qualifying agricultural corporations in renewable energy zones. Eligible land includes areas outside Agricultural Promotion Zones, which cover roughly 47% of South Korea’s farmland, or land within those zones specifically designated for renewable energy. Project operators must maintain annual agricultural production according to an approved plan and keep records of the solar equipment.
While the law doesn’t specify technical details like shading limits or structure heights, policy materials suggest a shading limit near 30% and minimum structure heights around 2.5 meters. South Korea joins France, Italy, and Japan in creating national rules for agrivoltaics, as the country also plans to increase funding for these projects to KRW 1.8 trillion ($1.3 billion) in 2027.
