Hanwha Q Cells Korea, a solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) affiliate of South Korea’s leading solar company Hanwha Q Cells Co. now has a new client for retail solar panels - gas stations across the country.

The solar EPC provider said Thursday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Oil Station Association, Dongwon EnC, DASS Tech, and Jeonbuk Bank to cooperate on a project to market solar panel systems to gas stations in Korea.

Under the agreement, the Korea Oil Station Association will be in charge of marketing the system to its members while Hanwha Q Cells Korea and DASS Tech supply photovoltaic panels and inverters, respectively. The panels will be installed by Dongwon EnC and Jeonbuk Bank will help out in financing.

Gas stations are attractive hosts for solar panels as the shade structures over gas pumps are well suited for photovoltaic panel arrays. They are also easily accessible, making installation and maintenance of solar panels convenient, said Hanwha Q Cells Korea.

Many countries around the world are adding solar powers to gas stations. French energy conglomerate Total in 2016 invested $300 million to install 200 megawatts of commercial photovoltaic capacity to 5,000 of its fuel stations around the world, and the U.A.E’s Emirates National Oil Company Group last year announced to add solar powers to all new gas stations.

If panels are installed at 13,000 gas stations across Korea, they would be able to save 300 billion won ($278 million) worth annually in electricity bills.

By Kang Doo-soon and Cho Jeehyun

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