Cho Young-jun, director of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Sustainable Management Institute, said that "the use of renewable energy is becoming a crucial management strategy for companies, rather than an option."
In his address at the Carbon Neutrality Academy networking session of "Smart Energy Plus 2026," at COEX in Seoul Samsung-dong on Thursday, Cho said, "How much electricity a company can secure stably and at a reasonable price determines its competitiveness," adding that renewable energy use has become an important management strategy.
The Carbon Neutrality Academy is an education and networking program for corporate ESG officers that Money Today has held every year in the first half of the year since 2021.
At the session, themed "Changing Environment, Corporate Renewable Energy Procurement Strategies," Cho emphasized, "With the full implementation of Europe's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism starting this year, how much carbon is emitted during product production has become a factor in export competitiveness." He added, "Global companies are also demanding that their partners use renewable energy."
He continued, "Power demand is also growing rapidly due to the expansion of AI data centers and the semiconductor industry," noting that "it is an era when not only large corporations but also SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and mid-sized companies must all consider these renewable energy issues."
Cho said, "It is a fact that there are still many difficulties in corporate settings regarding this," stating, "Even if companies want to use renewable energy, supply is insufficient and prices remain burdensome."
He said that companies that need to purchase renewable energy over the long term must make decisions with a 10- or 20-year outlook. "Prices and regulations must be stable enough for companies to invest with confidence," he said.
According to Cho, support is needed so that small and medium-sized enterprises lacking funds and specialized personnel can participate together. He added, "The expansion of renewable energy should become an opportunity to enhance competitiveness rather than a new burden for companies."
He said that the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry will convey the voices from corporate sites to the government and contribute to creating an environment where companies can utilize renewable energy at reasonable costs.
in INDUSTRY
