LG Electronics announced on the 5th that it had finalized a plan to cover 100% of the electricity used in all domestic and overseas business sites with renewable energy by 2050. It has completed joining the RE100 (Renewable Energy 100) initiative.
With this, LG Electronics plans to fulfill its responsibility in overcoming the climate crisis and further strengthen the sustainable competitiveness of its business.
RE100 is a voluntary company commitment to procure 100% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2050.
To this end, LG Electronics plans to gradually expand the renewable energy conversion rate with a roadmap of △60% by 2030, △90% by 2040 △100% by 2050.
LG Electronics expands the generation and use of renewable energy using solar panels installed in our workplaces, purchases a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC), a renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA), and receives a green premium from KEPCO. LG Electronics is also planning to implement various measures.
LG Electronics, in collaboration with GS EPS, is building a solar power plant on the roof of the integrated production building at LG Smart Park in Changwon, equivalent to the size of three soccer fields. Completion is targeted for 2025, some of which went into operation last December. Overseas business sites, such as the New Jersey office building in the US, Noida in India, and the Rayong home appliance plant in Thailand, also use self-produced energy with solar panels installed on rooftops.
With this RE100 membership, LG Electronics accelerates the transition to renewable energy and its carbon-neutral plan. Previously, LG Electronics announced its carbon-neutral 2030 plan to reduce net carbon dioxide emissions to "zero" by 2030.
In celebration of World Environment Day on the 5th, LG Electronics will screen a plastic reduction campaign video produced by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) through large electronic billboards in Times Square in New York and Piccadilly Square in London until the end of this month. It is part of the "LG Hope Screen" activity that screens public service videos created by international organizations or NGOs instead.
LG Electronics CSO Vice President Lee Sam-soo said, "We will create LG Electronics' ESG vision 'Better Life for All' by implementing various measures to achieve 100% renewable energy conversion and carbon neutrality."
By_BK Min, KDFN kdf@kdfnews.com
The summary of this article in Korean is as follows.
■LG전자, RE100 가입…재생에너지 전환·탄소중립 잰걸음
LG전자가 2050년까지 국내·외 전 사업장의 사용 전력 100%를 재생에너지로 충당하는 계획을 확정하고 'RE100(Renewable Energy 100)' 이니셔티브 가입을 완료했다고 5일 밝혔다.
RE100은 기업활동에 필요한 모든 전력을 태양광, 풍력 등의 재생에너지로 전환하는 목표를 내세운 자발적 캠페인이다.
LG전자는 RE100 달성을 위해 ▲2030년 60% ▲2040년 90% ▲2050년 100% 순으로 재생에너지 전환 비율을 확대해 나갈 계획이다. 사업장에 설치된 고효율 태양광 패널을 활용한 재생에너지 발전 및 사용을 확대하는 것은 물론이고 재생에너지 공급인증서(REC; Renewable Energy Certificate) 구매, 재생에너지 전력구매계약(PPA; Power Purchase Agreement), 한국전력의 녹색프리미엄 등 다양한 방안도 적극 병행한다.
LG전자는 실제로 국내 발전사업자 GS EPS와 협업해 2025년 완공을 목표로 창원 LG스마트파크 통합생산동 옥상에 축구장 3개 면적에 달하는 규모의 직접 PPA 태양광 발전소를 구축하고 있다. 이 가운데 일부는 지난 12월 준공을 완료해 운영 중이다.
서울 마곡 LG사이언스파크를 포함해 미국 뉴저지 사옥, 인도 노이다 및 태국 라용 가전공장 등 국내외 사업장에서는 옥상 등에 설치한 태양광 패널로 자체 생산한 에너지를 사용하고 있다.
LG전자 CSO 이삼수 부사장은 "재생에너지 100% 전환과 탄소중립 달성을 위한 방안을 실천해 LG전자의 ESG 비전인 ‘모두의 더 나은 삶(Better Life for All)’을 만들어 나갈 것"이라고 말했다
사진=LG전자
김상록 기자 kdf@kdfnews.com
