Energy in South Korea

Last updated
Yongpyeong wind farm Yongpyeong wind farm.jpg
Yongpyeong wind farm

South Korea is a major energy importer, importing nearly all of its oil needs and ranking as the second-largest importer of liquefied natural gas in the world. Electricity generation in the country mainly comes from conventional thermal power, which accounts for more than two thirds of production, and from nuclear power. [1]

Contents

Energy producers were dominated by government enterprises, although privately operated coal mines and oil refineries also existed. The National Assembly enacted a broad electricity sector restructuring program in 2000, but the restructuring process was halted amid political controversy in 2004 and remains a topic of intense political debate. [2]

South Korea has no proven oil reserves. [1] Exploration until the 1980s in the Yellow Sea and on the continental shelf between Korea and Japan did not find any offshore oil. Coal supply in the country is insufficient and of low quality. The potential for hydroelectric power is limited because of high seasonal variations in the weather and the concentration of most of the rainfall in the summer. As of 2017, South Korean President Moon Jae-in has vowed to end the country’s reliance on coal and also said the nation would move away from nuclear energy. He has taken a major step in that direction in June, saying his country would not try to extend the life of its nuclear plants, would close existing coal-fired plants, and would not build any new coal plants. [3]

In recent years, South Korea has set a new direction for its energy sector, with significant decarbonization goals, aiming to raise the share of electricity from renewable sources from 6% in 2019 to 35% by 2030. [4] [5]

History

Energy in South Korea [6]
NuclearCoalLNGRenewable

(PV & Wind)

Hydrogen & AmmoniaOthersTotal
2018133.5

(23.4%)

239.0

(41.9%)

152.9

(26.8%)

35.6

(6.2%)

0.0

(0.0%)

9.7

(1.7%)

570.7
2021158.0

(27.4%)

198.0

(34.3%)

168.4

(29.2%)

43.1

(7.5%)

0.7

(0.1%)

9.4

(1.6%)

577.5
2022176.1

(29.6%)

193.2

(32.5%)

163.6

(27.5%)

53.2

(8.9%)

0.9

(0.1%)

8.4

(1.4%)

595.3
2023 (proj.)188.3

(31.4%)

196.4

(32.8%)

150.0

(25.0%)

59.6

(9.9%)

n/a5.3

(0.9%)

599.6

Overview

Final energy consumption by source (2010): [7]

Energy in South Korea [8]
CapitaPrim. energyProductionImportElectricityCO2-emission
MillionTWhTWhTWhTWhMt
200448.082,4784422,140355462
200748.462,5844942,213412489
200848.612,6395202,269430501
200948.752,6655152,304438515
201048.882,9085222,571481563
201249.783,0295462,644506588
2012R50.003,0645382,659517593
201350.223,0685072,723524572
Change 2004-101.7%17.3%18.1%20.1%35.5%21.9%
Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy includes energy losses that are 2/3 for nuclear power [9]

2012R = CO2 calculation criteria changed, numbers updated

Electric power

History

Electricity production in South Korea Electricity production in South Korea.PNG
Electricity production in South Korea
Siheung, Gyeonggi South Korea fake trees 2.JPG
Siheung, Gyeonggi

The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) provided electricity in the country. When KEPCO's predecessor, KECO, was founded in 1961, annual power production was 1,770 GWh. Production reached 73,992 GWh in 1987. In that year, residential customers used 17.9% of total production, public and service businesses used 16.2%, and the industrial sector used 65.9%. Sources of power generation were primarily nuclear power, coal, oil, and liquefied natural gas. Of the 54,885 GWh of electricity generated in 1985, 22% came from nuclear plants then in operation, 74% from non-nuclear thermal plants (oil and coal), and 4% from hydroelectric sites. It was predicted in 1988 that the generation structure by the year 2000 would be 10.2% hydroelectric, 12.2% oil, 22.9% coal, 10.2% LNG, and 44.5% nuclear.

Statistics

Electricity production in South Korea, GWh
Source2008200920102011
Thermal264,747 (62.7%)278,400 (64.2%)315,608 (66.5%)324,354 (65.3%)
Nuclear150,958 (35.7%)147,771 (34.1%)148,596 (31.3%)154,723 (31.1%)
Hydro5,561 (1.3%)5,641 (1.3%)6,472 (1.4%)7,831 (1.6%)
Other1,090 (0.3%)1,791 (0.4%)3,984 (0.8%)9,985 (2.0%)
Total422,355433,604474,660496,893

Sources

Thermal

KOGAS (한국가스공사) acts as importer of LNG for the power generators.

Cogeneration and steam-heating

Nuclear Power

Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Busan Kori Nuclear Power Plant (8505820845).jpg
Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Busan

South Korea placed a heavy emphasis on nuclear power generation. The country's first nuclear power plant, the Kori Number One located near Pusan, which opened in 1977. Eight plants operated in 1987 when atomic power generation was an estimated 71,158 million kilowatts, or 53.1% of total electric power.

Renewable energy

Storage

In December 2017, Hyundai Electric announced a plan to build a 150MW grid storage battery near Ulsan for Korea Zinc. [10]

Global warming

Development of carbon dioxide emissions CO2 emissions South Korea.svg
Development of carbon dioxide emissions

According to the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center CDIAC South Korea is among the top ten, namely ninth, highest country in carbon dioxide emissions in the period 1950-2005. The United States (25%), China (10%) and Russia (8%) are the countries with the highest carbon dioxide emissions from 1950 to 2005. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in India</span> Power generation and distribution

India is the third largest producer of electricity in the world. During the fiscal year (FY) 2022–23, the total electricity generation in the country was 1,844 TWh, of which 1,618 TWh was generated by utilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Japan</span> Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in Japan

Japan is a major consumer of energy, ranking fifth in the world by primary energy use. Fossil fuels accounted for 88% of Japan's primary energy in 2019. Japan imports most of its energy due to scarce domestic resources. As of 2022, the country imports 97% of its oil and is the larger LNG importer globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Taiwan</span>

In 2022, 79.6% of Taiwan's electricity generation came from fossil fuels, 9.1% from nuclear, 8.6% from renewables, and 1.2% from hydro. Taiwan relies on imports for almost 98% of its energy, which leaves the island's energy supply vulnerable to external disruption. In order to reduce this dependence, the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Energy has been actively promoting energy research at several universities since the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in the United Kingdom</span> Overview of the energy use of the United Kingdom

Energy in the United Kingdom came mostly from fossil fuels in 2021. Total energy consumption in the United Kingdom was 142.0 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2019. In 2014, the UK had an energy consumption per capita of 2.78 tonnes of oil equivalent compared to a world average of 1.92 tonnes of oil equivalent. Demand for electricity in 2014 was 34.42 GW on average coming from a total electricity generation of 335.0 TWh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Thailand</span>

Energy in Thailand refers to the production, storage, import and export, and use of energy in the Southeast Asian nation of Thailand. Thailand's energy resources are modest and being depleted. The nation imports most of its oil and significant quantities of natural gas and coal. Its energy consumption has grown at an average rate of 3.3% from 2007 to 2017. Energy from renewables has only recently begun to contribute significant energy.

The energy policy of India is to increase the locally produced energy in India and reduce energy poverty, with more focus on developing alternative sources of energy, particularly nuclear, solar and wind energy. Net energy import dependency was 40.9% in 2021-22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy policy of Australia</span> Overview of the energy policy of Australia

The energy policy of Australia is subject to the regulatory and fiscal influence of all three levels of government in Australia, although only the State and Federal levels determine policy for primary industries such as coal. Federal policies for energy in Australia continue to support the coal mining and natural gas industries through subsidies for fossil fuel use and production. Australia is the 10th most coal-dependent country in the world. Coal and natural gas, along with oil-based products, are currently the primary sources of Australian energy usage and the coal industry produces over 30% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions. In 2018 Australia was the 8th highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy policy of China</span> Energy sources used and produced by China

China is both the world's largest energy consumer and the largest industrial country, and ensuring adequate energy supply to sustain economic growth has been a core concern of the Chinese Government since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Since the country's industrialization in the 1960s, China is currently the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and coal in China is a major cause of global warming. However, from 2010 to 2015 China reduced energy consumption per unit of GDP by 18%, and CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 20%. On a per-capita basis, China was only the world's 51st largest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2016. China is also the world's largest renewable energy producer, and the largest producer of hydroelectricity, solar power and wind power in the world. The energy policy of China is connected to its industrial policy, where the goals of China's industrial production dictate its energy demand managements.  

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in India</span> Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in India

Since 2013, total primary energy consumption in India has been the third highest in the world after China and United States. India is the second-top coal consumer in the year 2017 after China. India ranks third in oil consumption with 22.1 crore tons in 2017 after United States and China. India is net energy importer to meet nearly 47% of its total primary energy in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Russia</span> Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in Russia

Energy consumption across Russia in 2020 was 7,863 TWh. Russia is a leading global exporter of oil and natural gas and is the fourth highest greenhouse emitter in the world. As of September 2019, Russia adopted the Paris Agreement In 2020, CO2 emissions per capita were 11.2 tCO2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Romania</span>

Energy in Romania describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Romania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Finland</span> Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in Finland

Energy in Finland describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Finland. Energy policy of Finland describes the politics of Finland related to energy. Electricity sector in Finland is the main article regarding electricity in Finland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in China</span>

China is the world's largest electricity producer, having overtaken the United States in 2011 after rapid growth since the early 1990s. In 2021, China produced 8.5 petawatt-hour (PWh) of electricity, approximately 30% of the world's electricity production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Italy</span> Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in Italy

Energy in Italy comes mostly from fossil fuels. Among the most used resources are petroleum, natural gas, coal and renewables. Italy has few energy resources, and most supplies are imported.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Australia</span> Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in Australia

Energy in Australia is the production in Australia of energy and electricity, for consumption or export. Energy policy of Australia describes the politics of Australia as it relates to energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in Switzerland</span> Overview of the electricity sector in Switzerland

The electricity sector in Switzerland relies mainly on hydroelectricity, since the Alps cover almost two-thirds of the country's land mass, providing many large mountain lakes and artificial reservoirs suited for hydro power. In addition, the water masses drained from the Swiss Alps are intensively used by run-of-the-river hydroelectricity (ROR). With 9,052 kWh per person in 2008, the country's electricity consumption is relatively high and was 22% above the European Union's average.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Sweden</span> Overview of energy use in Sweden

Energy in Sweden describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Sweden. Electricity sector in Sweden is the main article of electricity in Sweden. The Swedish climate bill of February 2017 aims to make Sweden carbon neutral by 2045. The Swedish target is to decline emission of climate gases 63% from 1990 to 2030 and international transportation excluding foreign flights 70%. By 2014 just over half of the country's total final energy consumption in electricity, heating and cooling and transport combined was provided by renewables, the highest share amongst the then 28 EU member countries. About a third of Sweden's electricity is generated by nuclear power. In generating a year's worth of this energy, Swedes generate about 4 tonnes of CO2 emissions each. Since 2010, sustainability measures have reduced total emissions even as the population has increased.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Slovenia</span> Overview of the production, consumption, import and export of energy and electricity in Slovenia

Total primary energy supply (TPES) in Slovenia was 6.80 Mtoe in 2019. In the same year, electricity production was 16.1 TWh, consumption was 14.9 TWh.

Mongolia had a total primary energy supply (TPES) of 6.66 Mtoe in 2019. Electricity consumption was 7.71 TWh. Mongolia is a big producer of coal, which is mostly exported. Domestic consumption of coal accounts for about 70% of Mongolia's primary energy and makes up most of the electricity generation, accounting for about 87% of the domestic electricity production in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World energy supply and consumption</span> Global production and usage of energy

World energy supply and consumption refers to the global primary energy production, energy conversion and trade, and final consumption of energy. Energy can be used in various different forms, as processed fuels or electricity, or for various different purposes, like for transportation or electricity generation. Energy production and consumption are an important part of the economy. A serious problem concerning energy production and consumption is greenhouse gas emissions. Of about 50 billion tonnes worldwide annual total greenhouse gas emissions, 36 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide was emitted due to energy in 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 "Korea, South". US Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  2. "Which Direction for South Korean Electricity Policy?" (PDF). Korean Energy Economic Review 13 (2014) 145-178. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  3. "South Korean President Details Phase-out of Coal, Nuclear Power". 1 August 2017.
  4. Lee, Kyeongho (Ken) (2021-03-02). "South Korea's 9th Basic Plan for electricity – a step closer to carbon neutrality?". www.woodmac.com. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  5. "International - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  6. "South Korea - Country Commercial Guide". International Trade Administration.
  7. http://www.polsoz.fu-berlin.de/polwiss/forschung/systeme/ffu/veranstaltungen_aktuell/veranstaltungen_downloads/11_salzburg/Leem.pdf%5B%5D
  8. IEA Key World Energy Statistics Statistics 2015 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , 2014 (2012R as in November 2015 Archived 2015-04-05 at the Wayback Machine + 2012 as in March 2014 is comparable to previous years statistical calculation criteria, 2013 Archived 2014-09-02 at the Wayback Machine , 2012 Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine , 2011 Archived 2011-10-27 at the Wayback Machine , 2010 Archived 2010-10-11 at the Wayback Machine , 2009 Archived 2013-10-07 at the Wayback Machine , 2006 Archived 2009-10-12 at the Wayback Machine IEA October, crude oil p.11, coal p. 13 gas p. 15
  9. Energy in Sweden 2010 Archived 16 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine , Facts and figures, The Swedish Energy Agency, Table 8 Losses in nuclear power stations Table 9 Nuclear power brutto
  10. Graham, Karen (7 December 2017). "Hyundai building 150 MW energy storage battery in South Korea". Digital Journal. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  11. State of the world 2009, Worldwatch institute 2009, statistics 219-223, CDIAC Carbon dioxide information analysis center (http://www.cdiac.ornl.gov/trends%5B%5D)