Current status of ZEB criteria in South Korea and barriers to off-site renewable energy adoption

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the building sector in South Korea is adopting Zero Energy Building standards as a key strategy. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the feasibility of Zero Energy Building implementation in high-density urban environments. This study investigates the feasibility and challenges of Zero Energy Building certification in high-rise, densely populated areas in Seoul, South Korea, and proposes improvements to the nation’s off-site renewable energy systems. Using 11 large-scale buildings as case studies, the analysis focuses on the Energy Independence Rates achievable through maximum on-site renewable energy systems installations. The results show that five buildings failed to meet the minimum Zero Energy Building requirement of a 20 percent energy independence rate, even with full on-site deployment. To address these limitations, the study evaluates the current off-site renewable energy recognition system in South Korea, which allows buildings to supplement their energy independence rate by sourcing renewable energy from adjacent sites. However, even with additional off-site energy supply, four buildings still did not achieve Zero Energy Building. This highlights the limitations of existing regulations and the need for improvements. Key challenges include unclear regulations, limited availability of idle land for renewable energy installations, and conflicts with existing policies. The findings point to the potential of indirect strategies, such as power purchase agreements and renewable energy investment funds, to enhance energy independence rates and facilitate Zero Energy Building adoption. These results highlight the need for policy reforms to expand Zero Energy Building adoption in Korea’s private sector for carbon neutrality. • Identified physical and regulatory barriers to ZEB in high-rise buildings in Seoul. • of 11 buildings failed to meet 20 % EIR despite max on-site RES installation. • Off-site RES increased EIR by 2.1 %-45.5 %, but 4 buildings still missed ZEB. • Offered tailored solutions for South Korea's energy market to promote ZEB adoption. • Proposed indirect recognition for off-site energy, including PPA and fund utilization.