Outdated military regulations hinder offshore wind power expansion: report
Wind turbines are seen along the coast of Sinan, South Jeolla Province. Korea Times file
No specific plans formulated despite recommendations to update rules
The Ministry of National Defense has come under criticism for adhering to outdated altitude restrictions, which are hindering the expansion of offshore wind power generation facilities. As the urgency of energy transition intensifies in response to climate change, these antiquated standards are seen as a significant barrier to progress.
A report released by the Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC), Monday, highlighted the need for the defense ministry to update its decades-old regulations to support the growth of the offshore wind power industry. The SFOC is a nonprofit organization.
According to the report, the defense ministry currently imposes restrictions on the height of offshore wind turbines at 500 feet, or about 152.4 meters.
This is in line with the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act, which requires the ministry to assess the impact of such structures on military operations within protected zones.
The report criticizes the ministry for adjusting the regulations for turbines over 150 meters without clear justification, citing concerns that the turbine blades could interfere with radar networks.
The SFOC also argues that these outdated restrictions hinder the development of renewable energy sources crucial for combating climate change.
Due to these regulations, a total of 29 offshore wind power projects carried out in Jeju, Incheon and South Jeolla Province failed to obtain permission in 2022, facing opposition from the defense ministry during the review stage.
From 2013 to January last year, only four out of 70 projects met the ministry's standards.
This graph shows average height of global offshore wind power generators and the red line indicates the current height limit of the Ministry of National Defense. Courtesy of Solutions for Our Climate
The report by the SFOC highlights that the ministry’s regulations are outdated.
It notes that while the average height of global offshore wind turbines, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, was about 204 meters in 2022, the Korean defense ministry's 150-meter limit reflects an average standard from 12 years ago.
When these military standards are applied, only 0.5 percent of the planned offshore wind power projects can proceed.
According to the SFOC, as of December last year, only two out of 48 proposed offshore wind projects in Korea met the military's stringent requirements.
The defense ministry argues that the rotating blades of offshore wind turbines can interfere with military radar, creating unnecessary signals or obstructing the identification of objects behind the blades.
However, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, where offshore wind power is expanding, are reportedly advancing technologies to enable the long-term coexistence of wind turbines with air defense and radar systems.
Australia has even lifted the height limit for offshore wind turbines to 260 meters if they are outside operational zones, highlighting a more adaptive approach to integrating renewable energy with military needs.
The government is also aware of the problematic nature of these regulations. In 2018, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission recommended that the defense ministry reform the system, citing that the regulations excessively infringe on property rights, including constructing offshore wind power facilities.
Additionally, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has called for measures last June to address military operational restrictions hindering the development of offshore wind farms. The Office for Government Policy Coordination also acknowledged the current altitude limit as an excessive restriction and expressed willingness to revise it.
Despite these concerns and recommendations, no specific plans have been formulated yet. The defense ministry was not immediately available for comment on the matter.