As the government's Sunlight Income Village (햇빛소득마을) program gains momentum, practical solutions are needed for the problems that arise in securing sites for rural solar plants and connecting them to the grid. In a column for a news outlet, Attorney Sungwoo (Goni) Kim of SOLARIS explained the key issues in these projects and how to prepare for them legally.

The column stresses that leasing idle public land requires more than simple consent to use it: a long-term lease of 20 years or more, or a registered surface right, is essential. To avoid delays caused by grid saturation, it also recommends checking spare distribution-network capacity in advance, and, when partnering with energy storage system (ESS) or virtual power plant (VPP) operators, clearly setting out profit sharing and liability for damages in the contract.

SOLARIS will continue to provide practical legal advice that prevents disputes in renewable energy and environmental regulation and helps village communities run their projects on a stable basis.

- Original column: Step-by-Step Checks for Sunlight Income ②: Practical Checks on Site Acquisition, Grid Saturation and Minimizing Delay Risk