Was just wondering since it’s a topic I’ve become acquainted with recently.

On a completely unrelated matter, and if I may push my luck with another question, this time for “dlatn” (#21), what exactly is a “his and her’s marital aid set”?

And perhaps not totally unrelated, did you actually go around and count all 23 light bulbs in your apt?

Btw, I too think nuclear is probably a better bet, but that depends critically on siting and building the ever-delayed waste facilities.

My apartment is 42 pyong, shame I have to share it with the other 27 floors.
1Kw fridge, 1kW freezer, 1kW PDP TV, 1kW kimchee fridge, 300W rice steamer, 400W vacuumcleaner, DVD player, microwave, 2 alarmclock radios, computer, 5 electric toothbrushes, 3 electric razors, his and her’s marital aid set, three electric lamps, 23 light bulbs…etc

Even if Dokdo was Korea’s and it was covered in solar panels, Korea would still not have enough electric energy to supply its needs.

Don’t want to knock a purportably environmentally-friendly solution to our energy problems, however this does not seem to be the most appropriate solution for Korea, no matter how good it may be for certain industries keen on entering export markets but still in need of government assistance.

With Korea’s tidal flows and numerous islands, I’d say tidal power projects would make less pale-skinned elephants.

“If they were only concerned with the environment they’d save the 80 footballs fields and set the solar panels on the rooftops of the homes who will use the power.”

The rooftops of Chinese cities that receive a lot of sunshine are equipped with such panels.

Is this plant connected to an “Energy Service Company” (ESCO) project approved by the Korea Energy Management Co. (KEMCO) per the Rational Energy Utilization Act of 1991?

Uhh, we’ll have to get back to you on that one. We were the second Korean law firm chosen by this client (you’ll never guess the first), and came into the project well after questions like this were being asked.

UPDATE May 15, 2007: Yes, it is.

Is this plant connected to an “Energy Service Company” (ESCO) project approved by the Korea Energy Management Co. (KEMCO) per the Rational Energy Utilization Act of 1991?

Or is this a different animal altogether?

Costs will come down as more projects come on line, because economies of scale become possible. Additionally, creation of demand for photovoltaics also draws additional research and development to the field. Korean companies will want a piece of SunTechnics’ action — and the competition will be good for everyone, including SunTechnics.

There are also a couple of “worlds’-biggests” coming in the tidal-energy sector. Korea’s west coast has high tide variations, which also can be tapped to produce a heck of a lot of energy.

So we have market-based competition sparked by smart government policy, something which, when done well, Koreans are very good at. The high-speed Internet we’re using now was sparked by just this type of government-led demand creation.