Commemorating 70 Years of the ROK-U.S. Alliance ; Looking Ahead to a Carbon-Free Energy Alliance

-Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy holds the “ROK-U.S. Clean Energy Conference” to emphasize cooperation in the deployment of carbon free energy-

-Discussions on carbon management, battery recycling and innovative energy technologies such as hydrogen and CCUS will ensue-

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy led by Minister Bang Moon Kyu organized the “Korea-U.S. Clean Energy Conference” at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on November 13th. The conference aimed to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance and elevate bilateral relations to a carbon-free energy alliance. Over 200 experts from businesses, academia, and research labs from both countries, as well as from the U.S. Department of Energy and Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, attended the two-day event, discussing various topics revolving around achieving carbon neutrality and addressing the climate crisis. The conference furthers the commitments made by the two heads of state in April to promote global action on climate, accelerate the transition to clean energy, cooperate in expanding clean electricity, and build a clean energy economy.

The conference focused on expanding the deployment of carbon-free energy sources and decarbonizing the power sector, highlighting opportunities for cooperation in hydrogen technology development and deployment, carbon management technology commercialization and scale-up, and in advanced batteries and battery recycling. During the conference, panelists engaged in insightful discussions on clean energy technologies and innovations, and researchers from both countries’ government laboratories exchanged ideas and pitched their technological advances to promote partnerships.

The President of the CF Alliance, Lee Hoe-seong, delivered the keynote lecture where he presented the details of the Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) initiative, successfully launched following President Yoon’s proposal in September. He emphasized the importance of actively utilizing carbon-free energy sources and encouraged participation in the CFE initiative to ensure it gains global traction to address the climate crisis.

Minister Bang underscored the importance of achieving carbon neutrality and ensuring energy security during his opening speech. “To achieve these goals, we must widely utilize various carbon-free energy (CFE) sources such as nuclear power, renewables, and hydrogen,” he stated. The Minister also emphasized the necessity of “moving beyond the fossil fuel era and transforming the alliance between our two nations into a carbon-free energy alliance. By doing so, we can work hand in hand and with even greater strength to overcome the energy and climate crises we face together. We hope this cooperation will serve as a beacon of hope for a sustainable future, leading global efforts towards a shared vision of success.”