Attorney Sungwoo Kim of SOLARIS Law Firm attended the '2026 International Green Energy Expo' held at EXCO, Daegu, as a speaker and gave a lecture on the theme of 'Changes in Solar Power Generation Business Systems and Legal Risks'. This presentation covered in depth the structural changes in the domestic solar industry following 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 market is being reorganized from the existing fixed price purchase system and Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) around long-term power purchase agreements based on competitive bidding. In particular, as a single bid determines long-term profitability spanning 15 to 20 years, he explained that designing new financial structures and risk management strategies are essential for power generation operators.
The major legal issues at each stage of development, construction, and operation covered in the lecture on this day are as follows.
Development Stage: Securing sites, licensing procedures (conversion of farmland and mountainous districts, etc.), establishment of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV), and the legality of project financing structure design
Construction Stage: Clarification of EPC and subcontracting contract structures, and response to industrial safety regulations such as the Severe Accident Punishment Act
Operation Stage: Maintenance contracts, review of detailed terms of power purchase agreements (default interest, early termination, force majeure clauses), and curtailment disputes
In addition, the need for customized portfolio strategies by operator scale was suggested in 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 urged, "The solar business is evolving beyond simple facility construction into a comprehensive infrastructure business encompassing finance, contracts, and data," and added that thorough legal reviews must accompany from the initial contract design stage.
SOLARIS Law Firm will continue to provide professional and preemptive legal services, from contract review to dispute resolution, so that companies and power generation operators can run 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 servicesโfrom contract review to dispute resolutionโensuring that corporate clients and power developers can operate their businesses with stability and confidence.