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At the crossroads: An uncertain future facing the electricity‐generation sector in South Korea

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  • Sanghyun Hong
  • Barry W. Brook

Abstract

Nuclear energy has provided a major source of clean electricity for South Korea over decades. However, the South Korean Government announced an energy transition roadmap aiming to reduce nuclear shares and increase renewable shares. However, given the nation's high population density, the maximum share of renewable sources for electricity generation in South Korea is constrained. The roadmap was silent on how to fill the gap between a reduced nuclear output and the limited renewable potentials. The tacit alternatives are fossil fuels, and their deployment will become the key determining factor on how South Korea approaches the problem of greenhouse gas emissions reductions. We used scenario analysis to investigate two fossil‐intensive cases, alongside a hypothetical renewable case. On the basis of the comparison of the three scenarios with other countries, we provide an insight into the feasibility and limitations of the nonnuclear options and propose the techno‐economic requirements for avoiding the worst outcomes.

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  • Sanghyun Hong & Barry W. Brook, 2018. "At the crossroads: An uncertain future facing the electricity‐generation sector in South Korea," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(3), pages 522-532, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:asiaps:v:5:y:2018:i:3:p:522-532
    DOI: 10.1002/app5.245
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brouwer, Anne Sjoerd & van den Broek, Machteld & Zappa, William & Turkenburg, Wim C. & Faaij, André, 2016. "Least-cost options for integrating intermittent renewables in low-carbon power systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 48-74.
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    1. Sanghyun Hong & Barry W. Brook, 2018. "Economic Feasibility of Energy Supply by Small Modular Nuclear Reactors on Small Islands: Case Studies of Jeju, Tasmania and Tenerife," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-11, September.

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