Abstract
Both the introduction of the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) system into the electric energy market in 2012 and a decrease in the cost of constructing photovoltaic (PV) power plants have been increasing the number of MW PV plants in South Korea. Jeju Island is located at the center of three nations, South Korea, China and Japan, and its provincial government declared in 2012 that the island will be a clean region where greenhouse gases are not emitted by 2030. The Jeju provincial government is now doing its best to install PV plants and wind farms to realize a carbon-free island. In this study we investigated contribution of MW PV plants to the power of the electric grid during summer peak times on Jeju Island. Mt. Halla the highest mountain in South Korea, is located at the center of Jeju Island, and we divided the island into four regions and carried out analyses of a total of 24 PV plants. The average contribution of the PV plants in the respective region to electric power of Jeju Island during summer peak times was investigated and compared with those of the other regions. The best average contribution during the 12.5% maximum load period was obtained from the PV plants in the western region, and the value was 33% during 2015 and 2016.