Journal of the Korean Solar Energy SocietyISSN:1598-6411(Print) 2508-3562(Online)한국태양에너지학회

The eco-friendly energy town of Jincheon is Korea’s first renewable energy-based energy self-sufficient town that utilizes multiple renewable energy sources, such as PV, solar thermal, geothermal, and sewage heat to achieve power and thermal energy independence in the unit region. In this study, the thermal energy system of Jincheon, which has been operating since 2017, was analyzed. The thermal energy system consists of a seasonal thermal energy storage connected to approximately 1,600 m² of solar thermal collectors and a midnight thermal energy storage connected to approximately 150 RT heat pumps. Based on data from 2017 to 2020, the heat supply status, expected profits, and greenhouse gas reduction effects of the thermal energy system were analyzed. During the target period, 483 MWh of heating heat, 167 MWh of hot water, and 113 MWh of cooling heat were supplied on an annual average for the last three years. These findings confirmed expected profits of 95.6 million won/yr for hot heat and 1.3 million won/yr for cold heat. In addition, the renewable heat supply resulted in reduction of 156.7 tons of CO₂ eq./yr greenhouse gas.