From November 28, 2025, South Korea’s public parking lots larger than 1,000 m² must install renewable energy systems of at least 100 kW
The policy aims to boost renewable energy use in cities with strong grid capacity and efficient land use
The ministry will coordinate with local governments and public institutions through regional briefings to ensure a smooth rollout
South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has approved a new rule requiring public parking lots to install renewable energy facilities such as solar power. The amendment to the enforcement decree of the Renewable Energy Act was passed on November 11, 2025, and will take effect on November 28, 2025.
Under the revised regulation, public parking lots operated by the state, local governments, and public institutions will be required to install renewable energy systems. All such parking lots with a total parking space area of 1,000 m² or more must install renewable energy generation facilities with a minimum capacity of 100 kW or at least 1 kW of renewable energy capacity for every 10 m² of space.
According to a 2024 report of the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, as per local news portal Hankook Ilbo, this measure can lead to the installation of around 1.16 GW of electricity capacity. Currently, the installed renewable energy capacity in parking lots is approximately 52 MW.
The ministry said that the measure aims to expand the use of clean energy in urban areas while improving land utilization led by public institutions and supporting the country’s decarbonization goals. By introducing renewable systems in public parking lots, the government aims to leverage the urban grid.
The amendment specifies eligibility criteria, capacity requirements, and the implementation framework for the installations.
The director of the Renewable Energy Policy Division at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Shim Jin-soo, said, “The mandatory installation of renewable energy facilities in public parking lots is a way to increase the efficiency of land use by having public institutions take the lead in introducing renewable energy facilities. We will continue to expand the supply of renewable energy in various ways to contribute to the decarbonization and green transition.”
Beginning in December 2025, the ministry said it will hold briefing sessions with 11 metropolitan governments, including Seoul, to explain the policy details and distribute communication materials.