Renewable Energy R&D Program

Renewable Energy R&D

Funds renewable energy technology development in Korea to advance scalable solar, wind, and storage solutions.

The Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) issues annual competitive R&D grants for renewable energy technology under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). KETEP manages approximately USD $826 million in energy R&D annually (2025 figure) and runs renewable energy as one of its six primary program areas. The Renewable Energy R&D program is structured across three technology tracks. Solar covers tandem solar cell development targeting 35% conversion efficiency by 2030, idle-space solar utilization, panel recycling and reuse, and grid flexibility for high-penetration solar. Wind covers ultra-large turbines rated at 20MW and above, floating offshore wind systems, and wind farm operations and maintenance supported by AI and Big Data analytics. Bioenergy covers sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), biodiesel, livestock-manure solid fuels, and next-generation biofuels from non-food feedstocks including microalgae.

The program explicitly supports Korea's national target of 20% renewable electricity generation by 2030 and responds to RE100 corporate commitments from Korean industrial groups. Korean universities, research institutes, and for-profit companies are the standard applicant pool. Applications are submitted through the IRIS portal. Award amounts in Korean Won, per-call deadlines, match-funding ratios, and scoring criteria are published in annual solicitation documents. KETEP's total managed R&D portfolio of approximately USD $826 million provides context for the scale of individual program budgets, though program-level allocations are not published in the available source material.

Competitive applications align technology proposals with the specific efficiency, scale, or feedstock targets stated in each annual call. Floating offshore wind and advanced biofuel applicants benefit from Korea's coastal geography and existing industrial fermentation capabilities. For the solar track, tandem cell and recycling technology proposals align with both the 2030 efficiency target and growing end-of-life panel management demand. Non-Korean organizations should partner with a registered Korean lead institution before the IRIS submission window opens.