The representative of Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Korea, Dr. Bernhard Seliger, looking at the model for the first concentrated solar power plant in Korea at the Green Energy Expo in Daegu

Despite close economic interdependence political cooperation in Northeast Asia, between China, Japan and Korea, still is in an embryonic stage. Unresolved conflicts, in particular on the Korean Peninsula and with Taiwan, as well as the burden of history prevented closer cooperation until now. Cooperation in the field of renewable energies could change this, if Northeast Asia opts for a network of renewable energies based on solar energy from desert regions as this is currently planned between North Africa and the European Union in the so-called Desertec project. In this region solar-thermal energy will be brought from North Africa to the industrial centers of Europe – energy which is cheap, clean and inexhaustible. A similar network is proposed by Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Korea under the name Gobitec for cooperation between Northeast Asian states including Mongolia. In the desert regions of China (Takla Maklan) and Mongolia (Gobi) concentrated solar power can be generated and brought to the industrial centers of China, South Korea and Japan. To discuss this projects the representative of Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Korea, Dr. Bernhard Seliger, went to the Green Energy Expo in Daegu, the largest Asian fair and conference for renewable energy. There he spoke among others with Daesung company, which together with Daegu City Gas implements the first project of concentrated solar power in Korea. Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Koreas sees a great advantage in the multiple effects of the Gobitec project: it will tackle climate change issues, will generate green growth and realizes Northeast Asian cooperation in a model area, which one day could lead to a Northeast Asian energy Charta or community. Also in Europe, integration began with functional integration through the foundation of the European Community for Coal and Steel. Even North Korea could profit of such a project and receive solar energy for its centers in Pyongyang and Gaesong, without however, as in previous pipeline projects with fossil energy, being able to block the project, since electricity is transported by a whole grid, not just a single pipeline.

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   Tackling Climate Change Gobitech