In the Regulatory Sandbox Deliberation Committee, 32 cases were approved for special regulatory exemptions. Gas stations are set to transform into complex energy stations utilizing solar power and energy storage systems (ESS).
In rural and island regions, small self-service LPG charging stations are to be introduced, while regular gas stations will evolve into complex energy stations capable of charging electric vehicles using solar power.
On December 29, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reviewed and approved 32 regulatory sandbox special cases related to national life and energy at the 4th Industry Convergence Regulatory Special Review Committee of 2025.
Firstly, it will become more convenient to use LPG charging stations in rural and island regions. The current ‘Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act’ limits the minimum storage capacity of LPG charging stations to 15 tons or more to prevent the proliferation of hazardous facilities and ensure safety distances.
Due to this, building large LPG charging stations, which require significant facility investment, has been challenging in rural and island areas with low populations and insufficient LPG demand. Consequently, local farmers and fishermen using LPG vehicles had to bear the inconvenience. To resolve these issues, the “Korea LPG Association” proposed the “LPG small self-charging station demonstration,” which was approved.
This approval is expected to improve LPG charging accessibility for drivers in rural and island regions and lead to environmental benefits such as reducing fine dust through the expanded distribution of low-emission vehicles.
Meanwhile, gas stations have gained the capability to charge electric vehicles using solar power generation and energy storage systems (ESS). The current ‘Hazardous Material Safety Management Act’ allows for the installation of solar power and electric vehicle charging facilities at gas stations, but the installation of ESS is prohibited due to fire risks.
As a result, limitations arose where electric vehicles couldn’t be charged with solar power at night or on cloudy days. ‘Pioneer Electric’ proposed a demonstration using vanadium ion battery-based ESS with a low fire risk by using water as an electrolyte, which was approved by the committee.
This demonstration is anticipated to transform gas stations from places merely supplying fuel to “urban complex energy stations” that store solar power generated on-site to supply to electric vehicles.
Additionally, a commercial CO2 washing machine from LG Electronics that uses recycled carbon dioxide as a solvent instead of synthetic detergents or dry-cleaning oil is set to officially enter the market, enabling eco-friendly washing without wastewater and emissions. This follows a demonstration where safety was proven, and the need for regulatory adjustments was recognized, leading to a transition to temporary permits.
Choi Yeon-woo, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Technology Convergence Policy, stated, “The committee has approved special regulatory exemptions for new technologies and services closely related to daily life. We will continue to expand these exemptions to actively support the market introduction of new technologies, accelerate regulatory adjustments, gradually remove inconveniences in daily life, and ensure that people can feel the rationalization of regulations.”