Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea held the CFE Global Working Group meeting on February 7 via videoconferencing with the participation of the Czech Republic, Japan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Secretariat for discussions on the definition, standards, and technical criteria of carbon-free energy as well as practical measures to widen global participation in the CFE Initiative, including the provision of incentives for participating businesses.

MOTIE and the Carbon Free (CF) Alliance are leading the Carbon Free Energy (CFE) Initiative, which aims for a technology-neutral approach in utilizing various carbon-free energy sources such as renewables, nuclear energy, and clean hydrogen to facilitate industries’ cost-effective achievement of carbon neutrality. The CFE Initiative has won the support of a total of 13 countries, international organizations, and groups.

During the meeting, CF Alliance Chairman Lee Hoe-sung viewed that the CFE Global Working Group will serve to lay the foundation for discourse regarding the definition and standards of carbon-free energy that can gain general acceptance in the international community. CEM Secretariat Head Jean-François Gagné welcomed the active discussions within the CFE Global Working Group, which currently functions as the CEM platform, and expressed anticipation for the discussions to help build a stronger cooperation base.

Meanwhile, Korea, the Czech Republic, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to further relevant discussions for an early establishment of CFE implementation standards, while also stepping up cooperation to make progress through related discussions at the CEM Ministerial meeting slated for August 25 this year.