TY - RPRT KW - Clean energy KW - Korea KW - Clean Grid AU - Won Young Park AU - Nikit Abhyankar AU - Umed Paliwal AU - James Hyungkwan Kim AU - Nina Khanna AU - Kenji Shiraishi AU - Jiang Lin AU - Amol A Phadke AU - Yong Hyun Song AU - Hee Seung Moon AU - Eunsung Kim AU - Sanghyun Hong AU - Seung Wan Kim AB -

The current global energy crisis has massive implications for the people and economy of South Korea
(Korea), where at least 90% of energy use depends on foreign fossil fuels. Clean electricity accounts
for only 39% of total generation, with electricity demand expected to increase 30% by 2035. This study
shows that Korea can achieve 80% clean electricity by 2035 by capitalizing on rapid technological
improvements and decreasing costs of solar, wind, and battery technology. Doing so would slightly
lower electricity supply costs, significantly reduce dependence on imported natural gas and coal, and
dramatically cut power sector emissions. Further, this study finds that Korea’s power grid under a clean
energy scenario will maintain reliability without coal generation or new natural gas plants. To realize
these significant economic, environmental, and energy security benefits, policies such as an 80% clean
electricity standard by 2035 and corresponding renewable energy deployment goals are required.

C2 - LBNL-2001523 CY - Berkeley, CA DA - 04/2023 LA - eng N2 -

The current global energy crisis has massive implications for the people and economy of South Korea
(Korea), where at least 90% of energy use depends on foreign fossil fuels. Clean electricity accounts
for only 39% of total generation, with electricity demand expected to increase 30% by 2035. This study
shows that Korea can achieve 80% clean electricity by 2035 by capitalizing on rapid technological
improvements and decreasing costs of solar, wind, and battery technology. Doing so would slightly
lower electricity supply costs, significantly reduce dependence on imported natural gas and coal, and
dramatically cut power sector emissions. Further, this study finds that Korea’s power grid under a clean
energy scenario will maintain reliability without coal generation or new natural gas plants. To realize
these significant economic, environmental, and energy security benefits, policies such as an 80% clean
electricity standard by 2035 and corresponding renewable energy deployment goals are required.

PB - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory PP - Berkeley, CA PY - 2023 TI - A Clean Energy Korea by 2035, Transitioning to 80% Carbon-Free Electricity Generation UR - https://escholarship.org/uc/item/78n9b013 ER -