1. Research Goals and Methods■ Research Goals
￮ Amid recent global regulatory developments—including the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the EU Battery Regulation, expanded ESG disclosure requirements, and life cycle assessment (LCA) across corporate value chains—RE100 is no longer viewed merely as a voluntary initiative, but rather as a strategic imperative for corporate competitiveness and sustainability.
￮ In Korea, the central government, local governments, and businesses are prioritizing the expansion of renewable energy as a key strategy for achieving carbon neutrality. However, coordination among related initiatives (e.g., the establishment of renewable energy generation complexes, power grid expansion, and incentives to attract firms) remains limited.
￮ In particular, Jeonbuk State ranks second nationwide in solar power generation (5,534 GWh) and first in biomass power generation (4,348 GWh), indicating a strong comparative advantage in renewable energy infrastructure. Nevertheless, strategies for industrial cluster development and firm attraction that leverage this renewable energy base have yet to be systematically developed.
￮ With the expansion of corporate RE100 participation, this study presents strategies and models for Jeonbuk State to attract new firms and revitalize the regional economy through the establishment of an RE100 Special Zone aligned with corporate location decisions.
￮ In addition, this study defines the RE100 Special Zone as a tailored industrial support infrastructure that links regional renewable energy production and consumption to facilitate corporate RE100 compliance and proposes a roadmap for implementing such a zone in Jeonbuk.
■ Research Methods
￮ This study employs multiple research methods, including literature review, case studies, statistical analysis, expert surveys, and in-depth interviews.
2. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations
■ Conclusions
￮ The Jeonbuk-style RE100 Special Zone proposed in this study is a regional policy pilot initiative led by Jeonbuk State that clusters RE100-committed firms within a designated area and provides integrated support, including renewable energy supply, energy infrastructure development, regulatory and institutional reforms, and measures to improve business and residential conditions.
￮ The expert survey results indicate that securing a stable and efficient renewable energy supply and power infrastructure, particularly transmission and distribution networks, is the key priority in determining the overall direction of the Jeonbuk-style RE100 Special Zone.
￮ The findings also highlight the need to develop a practical implementation framework across policy, spatial, and technological dimensions, encompassing incentive design to attract firms, the appropriate selection of industrial complexes for the special zone, and phased implementation targets consistent with international RE100 standards.
■ Policy Recommendations
￮ Key conditions for establishing a Jeonbuk-style RE100 Special Zone are as follows:
(1) the presence of large-scale renewable energy sources within or near the zone to ensure a stable and cost-efficient electricity supply;
(2) the availability of development-ready industrial sites equipped with the necessary infrastructure to accommodate firms in a timely manner; and
(3) a strong industrial base consisting of export-oriented high-tech firms subject to carbon-neutrality regulations and industries that generate significant spillover effects on the regional economy.
￮ This study presents the following models for the RE100 Special Zone:
(1) a pilot model for national industrial complexes centered on the Saemangeum secondary battery cluster;
(2) an AI data center–driven urban high-tech industrial complex model; and
(3) a model linked to regional energy-intensive industries, notably Jeonbuk’s food processing industry.
￮ It also outlines a regionally scalable model that supports the restructuring of existing industrial complexes through Smart Green Industrial Complex initiatives and a globally scalable model built on Korea–China cooperative RE100 industrial complexes.
￮ Moreover, to enhance the effectiveness of the Jeonbuk-style RE100 Special Zone, this study proposes corporate incentive measures, including preferential tariff schemes for RE100-participating firms and public-interest subsidies for avoiding transmission line construction.
