%0 Report
%K Clean energy
%K Korea
%K Clean Grid
%A Won Young Park
%A Nikit Abhyankar
%A Umed Paliwal
%A James Hyungkwan Kim
%A Nina Khanna
%A Kenji Shiraishi
%A Jiang Lin
%A Amol A Phadke
%A Yong Hyun Song
%A Hee Seung Moon
%A Eunsung Kim
%A Sanghyun Hong
%A Seung Wan Kim
%C Berkeley, CA
%D 2023
%G eng
%I Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
%T A Clean Energy Korea by 2035, Transitioning to 80% Carbon-Free Electricity Generation
%U https://escholarship.org/uc/item/78n9b013
%2 LBNL-2001523
%8 04/2023
%X <p>The current global energy crisis has massive implications for the people and economy of South Korea<br />(Korea), where at least 90% of energy use depends on foreign fossil fuels. Clean electricity accounts<br />for only 39% of total generation, with electricity demand expected to increase 30% by 2035. This study<br />shows that Korea can achieve 80% clean electricity by 2035 by capitalizing on rapid technological<br />improvements and decreasing costs of solar, wind, and battery technology. Doing so would slightly<br />lower electricity supply costs, significantly reduce dependence on imported natural gas and coal, and<br />dramatically cut power sector emissions. Further, this study finds that Korea’s power grid under a clean<br />energy scenario will maintain reliability without coal generation or new natural gas plants. To realize<br />these significant economic, environmental, and energy security benefits, policies such as an 80% clean<br />electricity standard by 2035 and corresponding renewable energy deployment goals are required.</p>