Energy In South Korea Research Articles

An analysis of South Korea's energy transition policy with regards to offshore wind power development

South Korea's new energy transition policy was declared in 2017 as citizen demand grew for solutions to safety problems caused by successive earthquakes affecting areas with many nuclear power plants in 2016 and 2017 as well as health problems caused by coal-fired power plants contributing to high condensable particulate matter in spring. This policy focuses on both a reduction in nuclear and coal-fired power plants and further development of eco-friendly and sustainable power generation and supply. The South Korean government is thus planning a large-scale transition toward improved energy efficiency as well as safe and clean energy sources. Its announced goal is to supply a 20% share of renewable energy in the national energy mix, including 37 GW of photovoltaic power, 3 GW of onshore wind power, and 13 GW of offshore wind power by 2030; the latter is expected to play a strategic role in the Renewable Energy 2030 plan. As South Korea's geographic conditions enable large-scale offshore wind farm projects that are relatively free from complaints and visual effects caused by transportation, installation, noise, vibration, and damage to natural environments, it is highly likely that wind power will become one of the nation's major renewable electricity sources. This paper discusses the potential for developing offshore wind farm projects in South Korea with particular focus on analyzing offshore resources and reviewing government policies and support programs that could limit or otherwise challenge the deployment of such projects, with further considerations of policy choices that could improve the deployment of offshore wind power. As the greatest hindrances to offshore wind power development are frequently-changed government policies and support programs, the adoption of consistent, stable, and efficient guidelines and supports would be most beneficial for meeting South Korea's goals of increased offshore wind energy supplies.

A policy analysis of nuclear safety culture and security culture in East Asia: Examining best practices and challenges

Abstract This paper conducts a qualitative policy analysis of current challenges to safety culture and security culture in Southeast Asia and emerging best practices in Northeast Asia that are aimed at strengthening both cultures. It analyses lessons, including strengths and limitations, that can be derived from Northeast Asian states, given the long history of nuclear energy in South Korea, China and Japan. It identifies and examines best practices from Northeast Asia’s Nuclear Security Centres of Excellence in terms of boosting nuclear security culture and their relevance for Southeast Asia. The paper accentuates the important role of the State in adopting policy and regulatory frameworks and in institutionalising nuclear education and training programmes to deepen the safety-security cultures. Best practices in and challenges to developing a nuclear safety culture and a security culture in East Asia are examined using three frameworks of analysis (i) a comprehensive nuclear policy framework; (ii) a proactive and independent regulatory body; and (iii) holistic nuclear education and training programmes. The paper argues that Southeast Asian states interested in harnessing nuclear energy and/or utilising radioactive sources for non-power applications must develop a comprehensive policy framework on developing safety and security cultures, a proactive regulatory body, and holistic nuclear training programmes that cover both technical and human factors. Such measures are crucial in order to mitigate human errors that may lead to radiological accidents and nuclear security crises. Key lessons from Japan, South Korea and China such as best practices and challenges can inform policy recommendations for Southeast Asia in enhancing safety-security cultures.

Searching for New Directions for Energy Policy: Testing the Cross-Effect of Risk Perception and Cyberspace Factors on Online/Offline Opposition to Nuclear Energy in South Korea

In the internet age, a considerable amount of information about risk events and objects is shared in cyberspace. Since online and offline spaces are not discrete, there is a cross-effect in which perceptual or attitudinal factors in cyberspace influence offline actions, while offline attitudes affect online actions. However, few studies have examined this cross-effect. In the present study, the intention to engage in online or offline behaviors opposing nuclear energy was the dependent variable. The independent variables included risk perception factors (i.e., perceived risk, perceived benefit, trust, knowledge, and stigma) in the risk perception paradigm, and cyber factors (i.e., self-efficacy in cyberspace, involvement on the internet, trust in cyberspace, conformity to online opinion, and belief in online rumors) in the cyberpsychology paradigm. Our findings offer evidence for the cross-effect of online or offline predictors on online/offline behaviors opposing nuclear energy. All the variables in the cyberspace paradigm influenced offline opposition, while those in the risk perception paradigm affected online opposition. Moreover, the five online-related risk perception variables played a significant role in moderating the relationships of predictors in the risk perception paradigm with offline opposition.

Long-term energy strategy scenarios for South Korea: Transition to a sustainable energy system

This study aims to provide roadmaps for the sustainable development of South Korea's energy system. To this end, this study developed transition scenarios toward renewable energy for both supply and demand. We use “Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning system (LEAP)” Model and a backcasting approach to illustrate pathways to achieve the goals set forth in each of the scenarios. The four scenarios developed are Business-As-Usual (BAU), Moderate Transition Scenario (MTS), Advanced Transition Scenario (ATS), and Visionary Transition Scenario (VTS). The scenarios are defined according to the differences in the level of final energy consumption and renewable energy share by 2050. Analysis shows an increase in the percentage of renewable energy and a decrease in energy demand lead to improved energy security, more jobs in the electricity generation sector, and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. The pathways represented by these scenarios can be regarded as strategic targets for the sustainable development of South Korea's energy system. A set of comprehensive and long-term policies will be needed to attain the goals set forth in the scenarios.

External shocks and policy change in different coalition opportunity structures

ABSTRACTSince its introduction in the late 1980s, the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) has undergone three revisions in 1993, 1998, and 2007. The 2007 revision has contributed to expanding the applicability of the ACF to policy processes in both pluralistic and nonpluralistic political systems by creating a new category of variables called the coalition opportunity structure. Using a case study of nuclear energy in South Korea, which experienced a transition of the coalition opportunity structure from authoritarian to pluralist in the late 1980s, this study explores the mediating role of coalition opportunity structures in the relationship between an external shock and policy change. The findings indicate that contrary to what the ACF predicts, external shocks are exploited by a dominant coalition to further strengthen its power in the policy process in an authoritarian structure. External shocks do not have the same effect on policy subsystems in different coalition opportunity structures, and the relationship between an external shock and policy change is not a simple stimulus-response reaction. In addition, by contrasting the effect of an external shock in an authoritarian structure with that in a pluralist structure, this study explores how an external shock can function as a pathway to policy change as the ACF predicts.

Heating energy performance and part load ratio characteristics of boiler staging in an office building

Commercial buildings account for significant portions of the total building energy in South Korea and thus a variety of research on the boiler operation related to heating energy in office buildings has been carried out thus far. However, most of the researches have been conducted on the boiler itself, i.e., the part load ratio characteristics and the corresponding gas energy consumption patterns are not analyzed in the existing studies. In this study, the part load ratio and the operating characteristics of gas boiler have been analyzed within an office building equipped with the conventional variable air volume system. In addition, the gas consumption among different boiler staging schemes has been comparatively analyzed. As a result, significant portions of total operating hours, heating load and energy consumption has been found to be in a part load ratio range of 0 through 40% and thus energy consumption is significantly affected by boiler efficiency at low part load conditions. This suggests that boiler operation at the part load is an important factor in commercial buildings. In addition, utilizing sequential boiler staging scheme can save a gas usage of about 7%. For annual heating energy saving, applying the sequential control boiler with a 3:7 proportion staging is considered to be the optimal control algorithm for maximum efficiency of boilers.

The Influence of Social Trust on Public’s Trust in Nuclear-related Parties, Benefit and Risk Perceptions, and Acceptance of Nuclear Energy

Social trust is defined as the belief that others in society can generally be trusted (Sztompka, 1999). The cross-country differences in social trust have been empirically demonstrated by a series of global surveys, and South Korea is ranked as one of the lowest groups. This study investigated whether/how this factor of social trust influences public acceptance of nuclear energy in South Korea. This study also proposed and tested a causal model explaining public acceptance of nuclear energy. Specifically, it was proposed that publics’ trust in diverse nuclear-related parties, and risk and benefit perceptions of nuclear energy directly influence the level of acceptance of nuclear energy. The postulated model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures and data from the survey of 448 Seoul citizens between 20 and 59 years old. Results indicated that the proposed model fits the data well. It was found that social trust was not directly associated with acceptance of nuclear energy. Rather, it indirectly influenced public’s trust levels in different nuclear-related parties, which affect risk and benefit perceptions of nuclear energy, which in turn affect acceptance of nuclear energy. The practical implications of the results are discussed.

Positive or negative? Public perceptions of nuclear energy in South Korea: Evidence from Big Data

Abstract After several significant nuclear accidents, public attitudes toward nuclear energy technologies and facilities are considered to be one of the essential factors in the national energy and electricity policy-making process of several nations that employ nuclear energy as their key energy resource. However, it is difficult to explore and capture such an attitude, because the majority of prior studies analyzed public attitudes with a limited number of respondents and fragmentary opinion polls. In order to supplement this point, this study suggests a big data analyzing method with K-LIWC (Korean-Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count), sentiment and query analysis methods, and investigates public attitudes, positive and negative emotional statements about nuclear energy with the collected data sets of well-known social media and network services in Korea over time. Results show that several events and accidents related to nuclear energy have consistent or temporary effects on the attitude and ratios of the statements, depending on the kind of events and accidents. The presented methodology and the use of big data in relation to the energy industry is suggested as it can be helpful in addressing and exploring public attitudes. Based on the results, implications, limitations, and future research areas are presented.

Study on Policy Marking of Passive Level Insulation Standards for Non-Residential Buildings in South Korea

This study presented a methodology and process to establish a passive level for policy making of building energy in South Korea. A passive level in Korea specified in the 2017 Roadmap for non-residential buildings, which was 15 kWh/m2·year, was defined as the heating energy requirement to strengthen the building energy saving design standards, which were typical building energy regulations in Korea. This study also presented insulation standards of roofs, floors, outer walls, and windows in Pyeongchang, Seoul, Gwangju, and Jeju, which were represented cities of four zones in Korea (Middle 1, Middle 2, Southern, and Jeju). Furthermore, the study results were extended to 66 cities around the nation to calculate the heating energy requirements and a severely cold region was added to existing three regions (Middle, Southern, and Jeju) to extend this to four regions (Middle 1, Middle 2, Southern, and Jeju). Afterwards, insulation standards for four represented regions were presented to derive a measure that minimized an energy loss through outer walls or windows in buildings. Finally, this study derived that a return of investment can be achieved in 10 years, which was determined through the comprehensive economic feasibility analysis due to strengthening insulation performances, proving the rationalization of the legal strengthening.

Opportunities and Challenges of Solar and Wind Energy in South Korea: A Review

South Korea is the ninth biggest energy consumer and the seventh biggest carbon dioxide emitter in global energy consumption since 2016. Accordingly, the Korean government currently faces a two-fold significant challenge to improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most promising solutions to achieve the goals of sustainable development, energy security, and environmental protection is intensifying the role of renewable energy in electricity production. To this end, the Korean government plans to increase investments in the green energy field, where solar and wind energy will soon play a decisive role toward meeting energy demands and achieving a climate-friendly environment. In this context, this study discusses the future of solar and wind energy in South Korea in four key aspects: (i) opportunities and potential achievement of the vision of government; (ii) potential daily energy output across different geographical areas; (iii) current status and prospects; and (iv) challenges and potential solutions.

Dynamic Economic Analysis of Subsidies for New and Renewable Energy in South Korea

Many countries are increasing the supply of new and renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy security. Subsidies for new and renewable energy are considered a useful means to increase supply, although a close assessment is needed of whether the subsidies improve the economic feasibility of new and renewable energy. Thus, this study conducted an economic analysis on South Korea’s housing support program for new and renewable energy sources from the perspectives of the government and consumers. The results showed that, in 2014, the use of solar photovoltaics (PV) led to constant improvements in economic feasibility, which benefited both the government and consumers, but fuel cell failed to do so from both perspectives. Solar thermal and geothermal heat showed improved economic feasibility throughout the program for consumers. In particular, solar PV reported high economic feasibility in 2014 and 2015 for consumers, indicating that a significant subsidy amount was provided for solar PV facilities. This also confirmed the possibility of achieving economic feasibility for other energy sources within a limited budget by distributing subsidies across the various sources.

Necessity of management for minor earthquake to improve public acceptance of nuclear energy in South Korea

Abstract As public acceptance of nuclear energy in Korea worsens due to the Fukushima accident and the earthquakes that occurred in the Gyeongju area near the Wolsong nuclear power plant (NPP), estimating the effects of earthquakes has become more essential for the nuclear industry. Currently, most countermeasures against earthquakes are limited to large-scale disasters. Minor-scale earthquakes used to be ignored. Even though people do not feel the shaking due to minor earthquakes and minor earthquakes incur little damage to NPPs, they can change the environmental conditions, for instance, underground water level and the conductivity of the groundwater. This study conducted a questionnaire survey of residents living in the vicinity of an NPP to determine their perception and acceptance of plant safety against minor earthquakes. The results show that the residents feel earthquakes at levels that can be felt by people, but incur little damage to NPPs, as minor earthquakes (magnitude of 2.0–3.9) and set this level as a standard for countermeasures. Even if a minor earthquake has little impact on the safety of an NPP, there is still a possibility that public opinion will get worse. This study provides analysis results about problems of earthquake measures of Korean NPPs and specific things that can bring about an effect of deterioration of public acceptance. Based on these data, this article suggests that active management of minor earthquakes is necessary for the sustainability of nuclear energy.

Willingness to pay for replacing traditional energies with renewable energy in South Korea

This study aims to estimate consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for replacing traditional energy generated from nuclear and coal sources with renewable energy, using a contingent valuation (CV) model. To this end, it reports the results from a CV survey of 1000 respondents and a spike model. The estimate obtained shows that consumers are willing to pay an additional USD 3.3 per month to replace nuclear power and USD 3.0 per month to replace coal energy. The total WTPs for the substitution of nuclear power and coal-fired power with renewable energy sources are calculated as USD 722 million and USD 659 million, respectively. When such a WTP is provided for installing photovoltaic equipment, the photovoltaic capacity of 372 MW for nuclear power substitution and 339 MW for coal-fired power substitution can be built every year, taking into consideration the backup cost and opportunity cost. Given that the WTP means the level of public acceptability of a rising energy bill, Korean consumers would accept an increase in their electricity bills caused by solar photovoltaic energy equivalent to 31–32 GW in the medium and long term.

Estimating willingness to pay for renewable energy in South Korea using the contingent valuation method

The importance of renewable energy as a response to climate change is universally acknowledged. However, its successful implementation requires public approval and cooperation. This study aims to identify the level of renewable energy acceptance in Korea by estimating Korean consumers’ additional willingness to pay (WTP) using the contingent valuation (CV) method, which is the most widely used to analyze consumer preferences. The estimation results indicate that Korean consumers are willing to pay an additional USD 3.21 per month for electricity generated with renewable energy. However, WTP in Korea is low relative to other advanced nations, indicating that these values could be influenced through policies aimed at improving knowledge and acceptance of renewable energy sources among Korean consumers.

Electricity Pricing Policy Alternatives to Control Rapid Electrification in Korea

Although South Korea experienced a rolling blackout in 2011, the possibility of a blackout in South Korea continues to increase due to rapid electrification. This study examines the problems of energy taxation and price distortions as possible reasons for the rapid electrification in South Korea, which is occurring at a faster rate than in Japan, Europe, and other developed countries. Further, we suggest new energy taxation and price systems designed to normalize electricity prices. In order to do so, we consider two possible scenarios: the first imposes a tax on bituminous coal for electricity generation and the second levies a tax to provide compensation for the potential damages from a nuclear accident. Based on these scenarios, we analyze the effects of a new energy system on electricity price and demand. The results show that a new energy system could guarantee the power generation costs and balance the relative prices between energy sources, and could also help prevent rapid electrification. Therefore, the suggested new energy system is expected to be utilized as a basis for energy policy to decrease the speed of electrification, thus preventing a blackout, and to induce the rational consumption of energy in South Korea.

South Korea's National Energy Plan Six Years On

In 2008, South Korea adopted ambitious targets for reducing its dependence on energy imports and its carbon emissions simultaneously. The first National Energy Plan called for cutting energy intensity by nearly half and reducing the country's dependence on imported fossil fuels by more than one-quarter by 2030. Fossil fuels would be replaced by nuclear power and renewable sources of energy, which together would meet nearly 40% of South Korea's energy needs. The achievement of these targets has been impeded by a number of obstacles, however. In response, the government has adjusted its goals, most recently with the adoption of a second national energy plan in January 2014. But especially in the critical area of nuclear power, the targets remain highly ambitious, and there are still reasons to question their feasibility. As a result, South Korea may have to moderate further its energy ambitions or redouble its efforts to achieve them.

Research and development for algae-based technologies in Korea: a review of algae biofuel production

This review covers recent research and development (R&D) activities in the field of algae-based biofuels in Korea. As South Korea's energy policy paradigm has focused on the development of green energies, the government has funded several algae biofuel R&D consortia and pilot projects. Three major programs have been launched since 2009, and significant efforts are now being made to ensure a sustainable supply of algae-based biofuels. If these R&D projects are executed as planned for the next 10 years, they will enable us to overcome many technical barriers in algae biofuel technologies and help Korea to become one of the leading countries in green energy by 2020.

Evaluation of the long-term power generation mix: The case study of South Korea's energy policy

This paper presents a practical portfolio model for the long-term power generation mix problem. The proposed model optimizes the power generation mix by striking a trade-off between the expected cost of power generation and its variability. We use Monte Carlo simulation techniques to consider the uncertainty associated with future electricity demand, fuel prices and their correlations, and the capital costs of power plants. Unlike in the case of conventional power generation mix models, we employ CVaR (Conditional Value-at-Risk) in designing variability to consider events that are rare but enormously expensive. A comprehensive analysis on South Korea's generation policy using the portfolio model shows that a large annual cost is additionally charged to substitute a portion of nuclear energy with other alternatives. Nonetheless, if Korea has to reduce its dependency on nuclear energy because of undermined social receptivity from the Fukushima disaster, it turns out that LNG or coal could be a secure candidate from an economic perspective.

Why Is Russian Energy Policy Failing in Asia?*

Russia has tied the success of its efforts to reclaim great power status in Asia to its success in selling China, Japan, and South Korea energy. Consequently energy policy has been tied to defense and security and, for example, defense of energy projects has become a major mission for the navy. But Russia is encountering difficulties. In the Arctic, its new frontier for exploration of energy, much of which will go to East Asia, it faces Chinese political challenges. More broadly, throughout East Asia, and due to its own political and economic failings, it is not able to meet the needs of either South Korea or Japan. As a result, it is forced to rely ever more exclusively on China to help it develop the Russian Far East and export energy. Consequently Russia is falling into a greater dependence on China that contradicts and undermines its great power aspirations in East Asia.

Where Is the Nuclear Nation Going? Hopes and Fears Over Nuclear Energy in South Korea After the Fukushima Disaster

On 27 December 2009, a South Korean consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) signed an $18.6 billion contract with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the sale of several APR 1400–type K...