2026 South Korea’s Renewable Push: Barriers Eased, Key Decisions Pending
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This issue brief tracks recent progress on Korea’s goal of 100GW of renewable capacity by 2030. Between September and October 2026, the government took steps on three bottlenecks that have long held back deployment: coal’s place in the power system, grid access in the renewable-rich Honam region, and the use of farmland for solar.
The brief summarises each measure, assesses its likely contribution to the 2030 target, and identifies the implementation gaps still to be closed, including the LNG-heavy coal transition, curtailment and must-run rules, and local zoning for agrivoltaics. It closes by looking ahead to the 12th Basic Plan, expected in December 2026 or early 2027.
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Executive summary
South Korea (hereafter Korea) has set a target of 100GW of renewable capacity by 2030. As of October 2026, installed capacity stood at about 41GW, leaving a gap of roughly 59GW. Closing it requires around 15GW of new capacity a year from 2027, about four times the 2020–2025 average of 3.5GW a year.
Between May and October 2026, the government took three steps, each aimed at a major barrier to deployment: a draft coal phase-out roadmap, a reform of grid-connection rules for renewables, and a dedicated law for agrivoltaics (solar over farmland).
Each step removes a barrier but leaves key decisions open: what replaces coal, how future national renewable curtailment and fossil fuel generation must-run rules will be set, and whether local governments will designate land for agrivoltaics.
The 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, now expected in December 2026 or early 2027 after repeated delays, is the next decision point. It will show whether renewables fill the gap left by coal and absorb new industrial energy demand.
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