South Korea's Energy Strategy: Nuclear and Hydrogen to Reach Net Zero
Key Ideas
- South Korea prioritizes nuclear power and hydrogen to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century due to challenges in expanding solar and wind.
- The country aims to increase renewables in its power mix, double by the end of the decade and triple by 2038, while emphasizing nuclear and hydrogen to bridge the gap.
- Critics raise concerns over co-firing hydrogen with coal and gas, citing cost, inefficiency, and other greenhouse gas emissions. However, South Korea sees it as a necessary step to ensure stable power supply.
- To tackle its heavy dependence on fossil fuels, South Korea considers a mix of nuclear, hydrogen, and clean power technologies as the realistic approach to reach net zero emissions.
South Korea is focusing on a strategic energy plan to achieve net zero emissions by the mid-century, with an emphasis on nuclear power and hydrogen. The country's Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy highlighted the challenges in deploying solar and wind due to geographical constraints, leading them to believe that relying solely on renewable energy may not be sufficient. Currently, renewables make up less than 10% of South Korea's power mix, and the government aims to increase this to double by the end of the decade and triple by 2038. However, even with this growth, renewables will still account for less than a third of total power generation. To bridge this gap, the administration plans to introduce more nuclear reactors, currently contributing 30% to the electricity supply, and retrofit power plants for co-firing hydrogen with coal and gas.
Despite the potential controversy surrounding co-firing technology, South Korea sees it as a necessary step to ensure a stable power supply, especially for energy-intensive industries like semiconductors. The country's focus on nuclear and hydrogen aims to offer flexibility and address the intermittency issues associated with solar and wind power. Critics have raised concerns about the cost, efficiency, and additional greenhouse gas emissions related to co-firing, as well as the lack of large-scale deployment of hydrogen globally. However, South Korea views a mix of nuclear, hydrogen, and other clean power technologies as the pragmatic approach to achieve net zero emissions.
South Korea has faced criticism for lagging behind on emission reduction targets, primarily due to its grid's heavy reliance on fossil fuels. The recent ruling by the Constitutional Court of Korea highlighted the need for incremental climate goals from 2030 to 2050. The government acknowledges the need for trade-offs and careful planning to balance the transition to cleaner energy sources while ensuring a stable energy supply for its industries. By embracing carbon-free sources like nuclear, hydrogen, and other clean technologies, South Korea aims to pave the way towards a sustainable and decarbonized future.