Turning to Arirang now, demand for renewable energy... is on the rise worldwide. And with growing concerns over energy security and climate change, Korea is no exception. Kwon Soa reports.
[CG IN]
7-Eleven in Gyeonggi-do Province ‘goes green’

What appears to be an ordinary convenience store at first glance,... is fully equipped with eco-friendly devices -- solar panels on the roof,... the number one source of renewable energy in Korea,... and a system that ensures that energy is distributed evenly inside,... whether to the refrigerators,... the air conditioner... or the LED lights.

[REPORTER]
Kwon So-a

"Solar energy is absorbed throughout the day to keep the convenience store running at night. And leftover energy is stored in this energy storage system... for later use. This way, up to 30 percent of the energy can be saved."

[CG IN]
Energy systems help stores cut electricity costs by 23%

That system,... along with another one that helps monitor how much energy is consumed... and when and how it's used,... lets the store cut its carbon footprint by 30 percent and reduce its electricity fees by 23 percent.

[Interview]
Jeong Byung-jin / Support manager, 7-Eleven Korea
(Korean)
"Convenience stores are open 24 hours. The signs outside,... the lights inside... are on all the time. We wanted a way to cut energy waste."

[INTERVIEW]
Shin Dong-hyeun / Lotte Group
(Korean)
"Microgrid technology,... a convergence of renewables and IT, makes it possible for buildings to produce, use and save energy as they wish."

[CAMERAMEN]
Yoo Chung-hun

With ideas like these,... Korea is following the global trend toward boosting its use of renewable energy.

Last year, global renewable energy consumption levels rose to more than 20 percent for the first time ever.

Investment in the sector jumped last year, too.

Korea, however, doesn't contribute much to that,... as it's at the very bottom of the OECD when it comes to renewable energy production.

[INTERVIEW]
Song Jae-chun / Korea Institute of Energy Technology
(Korean)
"The number of renewable energy plants in Korea is growing rapidly,... and there will be tangible growth in the amount of renewable energy use between 2020 and 2025."

And that should help Korea reach its target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent by 2030.


Kwon Soa, Arirang News.