Attorney Sungwoo Kim of Solaris Law Firm attended the '2026 International Green Energy Expo' held at EXCO in Daegu as a speaker and gave a lecture under the theme of 'Solar Power Business System Changes and Legal Risks'. This presentation covered in depth the structural changes in the domestic solar industry due to the reorganization of the renewable energy distribution system and the legal issues at each stage resulting from it.
Attorney Sungwoo Kim emphasized that the solar energy market is being reorganized from the existing fixed price purchase system and Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to focus on long-term power purchase agreements based on competitive bidding. In particular, he explained that as a single bid determines long-term profitability spanning 15 to 20 years, designing new financial structures and risk management strategies is essential for power generation business operators.
The major legal issues at each stage of development, construction, and operation discussed during the lecture are as follows.
Development Stage: Securing sites, licensing procedures (such as conversion of farmland and mountainous districts), establishment of special purpose companies, and the legality of project financing structure design
Construction Stage: Clarification of EPC and subcontract agreement structures, and response to industrial safety regulations such as the Serious Accidents Punishment Act
Operation Stage: Review of maintenance agreements, detailed terms of power sales contracts (late payment interest, early termination, force majeure clauses), and curtailment disputes
In addition, the need for customized portfolio strategies by business size was proposed amidst a dual structure where the government-led bidding market and the private-led direct power purchase agreement market for RE100 implementation run in parallel. Attorney Kim advised, "The solar business is evolving beyond simple equipment construction into a comprehensive infrastructure business encompassing finance, contracts, and data," and stressed that thorough legal review must accompany from the initial contract design stage.
Solaris Law Firm will continue to provide professional and proactive legal services from contract reviews to dispute resolutions so that corporations and power generation operators can conduct their businesses stably amidst rapidly changing energy and environmental regulations.
SOLARIS Attorney Sungwoo Kim Presents Legal Risks and Strategies for Solar Power Business at the '2026 International Green Energy Expo'
Attorney Sungwoo Kim of SOLARIS delivered a presentation on "Legal Risks and Changes in the Solar Power Business System" at the 2026 International Green Energy Expo held at Daegu EXCO. The session provided an in-depth analysis of the structural shifts in the domestic solar industry driven by renewable energy policy reforms and outlined the legal issues at each stage of project development.
Attorney Kim emphasized that the solar market is transitioning from the Feed-in Tariff and Renewable Portfolio Standard systems to a competitive bidding-based long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) market. With a single bid now determining profitability over a 15 to 20-year period, he explained that establishing new financial structures and robust risk management strategies is essential for power generation operators.
The presentation covered key legal issues across the development, construction, and operational phases:
Development Phase: Securing sites, navigating licensing procedures (such as land use conversion), establishing Special Purpose Companies, and structuring Project Financing legally.
Construction Phase: Clarifying Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) and subcontracting structures, alongside ensuring compliance with occupational safety regulations like the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.
Operation Phase: Reviewing Operation & Maintenance contracts, detailed conditions of PPAs (e.g., default interest, early termination, force majeure clauses), and resolving disputes related to output curtailment.
Furthermore, Attorney Kim highlighted the necessity of tailored portfolio strategies for businesses of different sizes, given the dual-market structure comprising government-led bidding markets and private direct PPAs for RE100 implementation. "The solar business is evolving beyond simple installation into a comprehensive infrastructure sector encompassing finance, contracts, and data," Kim noted, urging thorough legal review from the initial contract design stage.
Amidst rapidly changing energy and environmental regulations, SOLARIS remains committed to providing specialized and proactive legal services—from contract review to dispute resolution—ensuring that corporate clients and power developers can operate their businesses with stability and confidence.