심부(深部) 지열에너지 개발 및 이용의 촉진을 위한 국내 법제의 개선방향 - 외국의 인·허가제도의 검토를 중심으로 -

The promotion of renewable energy technologies is one of the essential solutions to global climate change, prevalent environmental pollution problems, energy insecurity, and the maintenance of long-term national competitiveness. Among other renewable energy resources, deep underground geothermal energy resources have many strengths, which include unlimited resource potential, high reliability in supply, and environmental friendliness relative to other renewable resources. However, deep underground geothermal energy resource developers face formidable regulatory barriers due to the absence of specific permitting procedures under the current Korean legal system, which are specifically designed to consider geothermal energy characteristics. Based on the examination of Australian, American, and German cases, this Article proposes that geothermal energy resources be classified as mineral resources with possible national ownership under the Mining Law. It also adds that special provisions relating to geothermal energy projects must be inserted into the revised Mining Law in order to reflect the characteristics of geothermal energy exploration projects. On the other hand, the Article argues that RD&D support for the facilitation of drilling and exploration technologies be strengthened, together with an urgent need for the reconsideration of recent national policy that chooses to switch to renewable portfolio standards (RPS) from feed-in tariffs (FIT).