South Korea eases rules to boost water tech exports
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The South Korean Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Regulatory Reform Committee announced plans to relax regulations in the water industry to promote exports and innovation.
The government will create legal grounds for “full-process AI water treatment plants”, a technology South Korea says it uniquely possesses, and pursue ISO international standards for the system.
It will also broaden the definition of heat source materials to include treated sewage and discharged groundwater, allowing these resources to be repurposed as thermal energy. The changes extend to water source protection areas. Authorities will permit solar power installations on reservoirs, managed jointly by organizations like the Korea Water Resources Corporation and local residents. They will also allow private sector involvement in eco-friendly projects around dams, moving away from direct management by dam authorities.
The government intends to remove limits on funding from the water resources fund for projects that increase income for residents near water sources, enabling them to benefit directly from renewable energy.
