South Korea’s energy system traditionally relies on fossil fuels. Around 40 per cent of electricity is produced from coal; 30 per cent, from nuclear. But despite its land constraints, the country is currently redefining its long-term energy plan through a series of pledges towards net-zero emission in 2050.
This project aims at assessing various carbon reduction pathways with a mid and long-term perspective. The project first assesses the feasibility and impact of reducing coal-fired power and increasing the share of renewables with a focus on 2030.
The project then analyses how sector integration (electricity, heat and transport) can help decarbonize the Korean energy system beyond 2030, while simultaneously providing an important source of flexibility for the integration of variable renewables.
The analytical part of this project will be based on a model developed by GESI. As very little information is publicly available, the study will be one of the first tackling sector-coupling and net-zero 2050 in South Korea. The project should ultimately provide policy suggestions related to deep decarbonization pathways, the electrification of other sectors, and hydrogen strategies.
The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy on the basis of a decision by the German Bundestag.