South Korea approves upper limits on renewable energy setback distances

<p>The government of South Korea has amended rules governing renewable energy facilities to introduce a new national limit on the setback distance local governments can impose on new projects.</p>

<p>Under changes to the enforcement decree on renewable energy projects, approved by the cabinet this week, local governments will be permitted to establish setback requirements for solar projects of no more than 200 meters, equivalent to around five houses.</p>

<p>The new setback distance does not apply to <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/08/10/south-korea-selects-first-villages-for-community-solar-scheme/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">community-participatory power generation facilities</a>, solar systems mounted on buildings, or PV systems installed for self-consumption.</p>

<p>The amendment also introduces a setback distance of 1,500 meters for future wind energy projects and stipulates that wind turbines must be located at least twice their total height from relevant areas.</p>

<p>These newly-approved setback distances, due to come into effect in September, are set as upper limits, meaning local governments retain the ability to establish their own setback distances lower than the threshold.</p>

<p>An update posted by the country’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) explains that a municipality currently requiring solar projects to be at least 300 meters from residential areas would have to reduce its maximum setback to 200 meters or less, while a municipality with a 100 meter setback would be able to retain its existing rule.</p>

<p>MCEE’s statement adds that setback requirements have historically varied significantly across South Korea&#8217;s local governments. A total 129 of the country’s 228 local governments currently enforce setback distances, with existing requirements for solar projects running from 100 to 1,000 meters. The government says this variation has constrained the availability of suitable sites for renewable energy development.</p>

<p>Lee Kyung-soo, MCEE&#8217;s Director General of Renewable Energy Policy, said the amendment will increase the predictability of renewable energy projects while also considering public acceptance.</p>

<p>“We will continue to communicate with local governments to ensure the system is stably established on the ground and contributes to the expansion of renewable energy supply,” he added.</p>

<p>Further amendments to South Korea&#8217;s enforcement decree also establishes a new legal framework governing new energy and renewable energy sources.</p>

<p>Rather than encompassing such energy sources under once act, the framework is being separated to govern renewable energy under the Act on Promotion of Development, Use and Dissemination of Renewable Energy and hydrogen and other new-energy provisions governed under the Act on Promotion of Hydrogen Economy and Hydrogen Safety Management.</p>

<p>Last week, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for South Korea’s<a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/08/06/south-korea-proceeds-with-largest-single-site-pv-project-to-date/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;largest single-site PV complex</a>&nbsp;to date. In July, the country announced its latest solar tender covering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/17/south-korea-announces-1-gw-solar-tender/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">1 GW of new solar capacity</a>.</p>

<p>South Korea’s cumulative solar capacity reached 30,346 MW by the end of 2025, according to figures published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a 3.6 GW increase on data reported at the end of 2024.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/08/12/south-korea-approves-upper-limits-on-renewable-energy-setback-distances/">South Korea approves upper limits on renewable energy setback distances</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com">pv magazine Global</a>.</p>