JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #67 - August/September 2011 - 23

the positive impact from external demand spreads further to the domestic economy. The priority is to strengthen competition by eliminating domestic entry barriers, accelerating regulatory reform, upgrading competition policy and reducing barriers to trade and inflows of foreign direct investment.

The example of wind energy
Wind energy is representative of the dynamics that prevail in South Korea today. Aware that the country has fallen behind in that field, the Korean government is pulling out all the stops to catch up, as the excerpts from the 2010 Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) Report show. The sector is still in its infancy in South

one of its priorities for national development. The existing feed-in tariff, which was too low to support wind-power development, was recently replaced with a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) scheme. In addition, several The Korean industry for wind turbine components is heavy also flourishing. Korean Korea, but the government manufacturers have started has made “green growth” to include wind turbines in with low carbon emissions their portfolios in order to

compete both domestically and in the international marketplace. Installed capacity increased from 5.9 MW at the end of 2000 to 379.3 MW at the end of 2010, with generation growing from 16.7 GWh to 812 GWh. With total power generation of 461.7 TWh in 2010, wind power accounted for just 0.176% of the total electrical power generation. The major electricity sources in Korea are nuclear (31.4%), coal (41.9%), and natural gas (21.2%).

Manufacturers are interested
According to the RPS target, and assuming that wind power will provide 70% of all renewable power, 2,390 MW should be built in 2012, and Korea’s cumulative wind power capacity would reach 15,660 MW by 2022.

interview

that make up the composites market? S. H. H. : The main application sectors for composites in Korea are wind turbine blades, military applications, and sporting goods such as high-grade golf shafts, bicycle components, etc. JCM: Is the business activity driven by the domestic market or by exports? S. H. H. : Both the domestic and international markets are driving the sector’s activity, especially for carbon prepregs, various industrial composite products such as aircraft components, sporting goods, pressure vessels and various resins and curing agents. JCM: According to you, what are the strengths of Korea in the composites sector? S. H. H. : Korea’s strong points are processing equipment, resins systems and the

THE KOREAN SOCIETY FOR

SOON HYUNG HONG PRESIDENT COMPOSITE MATERIALS

JEC Composites Magazine: What is the situation of the composites market in Korea today? SOON HYUNG HONG : Players in the Korean composites market are trying to expand as much as possible. JCM: What are the application areas

No67 August - September 2011 / jec composites magazine willingness to apply composites in various areas. JCM: Korean companies are relatively discreet, do you see changes? S. H. H. : Not really. All companies are discreet and always looking for profitable components. JCM: What are the connections between the academic and industrial worlds? S. H. H. : There are a number of gaps and some good connections, depending on the size and economic situation of each company. JCM: Are there major composites projects in Korea now? S. H. H. : Yes, the most significant projects focus on the development of carbon fibre and the expansion of the markets, including windmill blades and all other application areas.

Market

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #67 - August/September 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #67 - August/September 2011