This study is based on the "2050 Climate Neutrality Roadmap for Korea, K-Map Scenario: Implementing an ambitious decarbonization pathway for the benefit of future generations and the Korean economy" released in February 2022, which examines the potential for additional GHG reductions in five emission sectors: transition, industry, transportation, buildings and agriculture, and analyzes the necessary measures. The results of the analysis for each sector are presented in the order of updating the GHG reduction roadmap, analyzing the potential for additional reductions, and proposing necessary policies, with the aim of analyzing the sectors that need rapid transition to achieve carbon neutrality and strengthening national competitiveness. We hope this report will serve as a useful reference for policy makers and researchers working to achieve carbon neutrality.

2024-04-07 / Institute for Green Transformation, Green Energy Strategy Institute, NEXT group, Agora Energiewende

NEXT group has prepared a policy paper for climate and energy-related agenda for the 22nd General Election. We emphasized the need for the government to actively implement a carbon-neutral policy, as not only to address the climate crisis but also the economic crisis that may worsen due to the strengthening international regulations. We hope it will provide a useful reference for the policy-makers in creating Korea's climate and energy agenda.

2024-02-19 / NEXT group

The Foreign Pollution Fee (FPF) Act is one of the U.S.' multiple attempts to implement trade regulations. The goal is to restrict imports to no more than 50% greater carbon intensity than the U.S. Korean-manufactured steel flat products are expected to be 65 to 69 percent more carbon-intensive than their U.S. counterparts, making it challenging for Korean steelmakers to avoid tariffs as the difference exceeds 50%. To secure the steel export market, a quick promotion of low-carbon technologies, such as using coke oven gas in blast furnaces to replace cokes partially and increasing inputs of scraps and direct reduced iron in basic oxygen furnaces, is necessary in the short and medium term. The government should ease the industry burden by supporting the procurement of scrap and DRI, the materials essential in the short and medium-term decarbonization process, and decarbonizing the national grid.

2024-01-23 / Rachel Eun Ko

On December 13, 2023, NEXT group joined a coalition of Asian Energy Think Tanks and became a signatory of a joint statement “Uniting for Asia’s Renewable Energy Future,” which was announced at a media briefing just before the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Summit held on the same day in Tokyo, Japan. NEXT group is committed to sharing its expertise in data analysis, policy research and experience in working with various stakeholders, including decision-makers, to strengthen the decarbonization efforts of the Southeast Asian neighbors and collectively raise voice for policy pressure.

2023-12-14 / NEXT Group

According to the 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, Korea is targeting a 6.3% share of wind power in total electricity generation and a cumulative installed capacity of 14.3 GW of offshore wind power in 2030, but there are no ports in Korea that can be used as marshalling ports for offshore wind farms, and even if the construction of the currently planned ports proceeds smoothly, there will be a serious bottleneck from 2026, and only 7.8 GW of offshore wind power can be installed at the end of 2030. Our simulations show that 7.3 GW of additional offshore wind capacity could be installed by 2030 (totaling 15.1 GW), assuming that the currently planned ports are built as soon as possible, and new ports are constructed. This issue brief recommends that the government should reorganize the Basic Plan for Ports and the Basic Plan for the Construction of New Ports to meet the carbon neutrality target and proceed with the construction of installed ports based on this, which will proactively resolve bottlenecks and contribute to achieving the national offshore wind deployment target.

2023-10-30 / Yunsik Chung, Eunsung Kim

This paper addresses the need for distribution system operators to effectively manage uncertainties related to distributed energy resources. We propose a probabilistic approach using Polynomial Chaos Expansion, allowing the operator to balance economic efficiency with system reliability by setting a pre-determined acceptable violation probability. Moreover, we introduce a framework for integrating the capability of distributed energy resources aggregators to manage uncertainties through the uncertainty band commodity. Our methodology fairly distributes responsibility for constraint violations among various stakeholders by employing two allocation strategies: one based on Shapley Value and another based on sensitivity factors. The proposed system significantly improves the overall decision-making process by considering both economic and reliability factors within the prequalification process of distribution system operator.

2023-10-26 / Chang Min Jeong, Hee Seung Moon, Seung Wan Kim

This study diagnoses the current status of Korea's green public procurement system and its limitations in terms of climate change mitigation, and proposes improvement measures to create low-carbon demand for high-emitting building materials such as cement and steel. It is estimated that about 30% reduction in the industrial sector can be achieved through the improvement measures proposed in this study, which is higher than the revised industrial sector NDC of 2023, which is 11.4% reduction from 2018. As a policy task to achieve the national carbon neutral scenario, it is proposed to 1) mandate the submission of Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) results in public procurement bids to verify the embedded carbon content of products entering the public procurement market; 2) reorganize the national LCI DB and develop product-specific LCI DBs in line with international standards for accurate carbon footprint calculation; and 3) revise relevant Korean Industrial Standards (KS) for the decarbonization of cement and steel products with maximum allowable carbon emission levels.

2023-10-16 / Jung Hyun Han

Our study conducts a quantitative analysis how the introducing of peer-to-peer (P2P) trading affects the benefits of each stakeholder, offering a guide for policy adoption. Firstly, we have devised a P2P trading mechanism based on credit auctions tailored for residential, while considering the application of the increasing block rate tariff often applied to residential customers in the real world, and have assessed its benefits in comparison to the current net metering scheme. Multiple case studies were undertaken, encompassing various scenarios, including the level of purchase price of utility for uncleared auction offers, the proportion of prosumers participating in the trading network, and the level of capacity of PV. Our study shows that the P2P trading does not always yield positive benefits for prosumers compared to the prior policy. Nevertheless, we identify specific conditions under which the P2P trading can stimulate residential PV installations.

2023-10-11 / Jung-Sung Park, Seung Wan Kim, Ji Woo Lee

The steel sector is known to be the largest emitter, accounting for about 7% of the world's annual GHG emissions, and in South Korea, it accounts for a staggering 15% of total national GHG emissions, and in Japan, about 13%. This webinar aims to share the findings of the steel sector decarbonization strategies of two major steel producers and Asian neighbors, South Korea and Japan, and compare their similarities and differences in terms of implementation strategies, technological alternatives, and policy instruments that can support them. We will also share the views of a global civil society organization on the role and position of these two countries in the global steel decarbonization.

2023-09-28 / NEXT group

This issue brief explores alternatives to address the inefficiencies and instability of the electricity grid caused by the growth of behind-the-meter (BTM) generators such as rooftop solar. Encouraging the demand side to operate and manage BTM generators has the benefit of lowering capital and management costs while increasing grid reliability. In California, the state's Net Energy Metering (NEM) 1.0 and 2.0 programs have enabled rapid deployment of rooftop solar, and the recent NEM 3.0 program is sending price signals to incentivize integrated installations with battery storage. In Korea, it is reasonable to induce an increase in the penetration of BTM generators through retail rate compensation levels such as California's NEM 1.0 or 2.0, but to take demand-side measures by establishing a compensation system that can send appropriate price signals to users of BTM generators to control volatility, such as the 3.0 system.

2023-09-19 / Jiwoo Lee, Yonghyun Song

The K-NZS includes a first 5-year roadmap to 2050 that showcases a mix of net-zero steel production technologies and expected production costs and carbon reduction potential, considering Korea’s local and unique environments, including available resources, technology maturity, competitiveness and economic feasibility. The existing steel decarbonization roadmaps so far fail to show ambitions to meet the Paris Pledge with the Korean Government's 2030 reduction target being a mere 1%, while POSCO aims for 10% and Hyundai Steel for 12%. K-NZS is closer to IEA’s 1.5°C pathway than any existing roadmaps with stronger steel emission reductions of 19% by 2030, 53% by 2040 and 95% by 2050 compared to the 2018 levels (scope 1 and 2 combined).

2023-07-24 / Minho Hur, Saerok Jeong

This report is a combined executive summary of K-Map 2, the sectoral implementation measures of K-Map: 2050 Climate Neutrality Roadmap for Korea published in February 2022 (power, industry, building, transportation and agricultural sectors).

2023-05-26 / GESI, IGT, NEXT Group, Agora Energiewende

It is CEO Seungwan Kim's opinion piece placed in Nikkei Asia, urging for the acceleration of green steel production and the implementation of supportive policy measures in Korea.

2023-05-08 / Seungwan Kim

In recent years, there has been a global acceleration in the adoption of DERs, due to their potential to decrease net demand and minimize costs associated with transmission and distribution networks. In practice, however, many of them are not situated in load areas, but in remote areas for return of investment, i.e., mostly characterized by high solar radiation, abundant wind resources, and relatively low land-use fees. As a result, the locational mismatches can lead to excessive network construction, significant congestion, and loss costs. To achieve cost-effective grid operation and planning results, it is crucial to locate DERs considering their system level impacts. Since the locational benefits of DERs are not fully assessed for and reflected in their field deployment process today, DERs are not induced to the appropriate sites. To fill this gap, this study quantifies the benefits of diverse DER deployment scenarios using Monte Carlo simulations and provides policy recommendations for utilities and authorities. To estimate the benefits, we conducted a long-term analysis using the transmission expansion planning approach and a short-term analysis based on the AC optimal power flow methodology. Our research demonstrates that well-located DERs can significantly contribute to the overall power system.

2023-04-25 / Eo Jin Choi, Ji Woo Lee, Dam Kim, Gab-Su Seo, Seung Wan Kim

With South Korea’s electricity demand expected to grow 30% by 2035, transitioning to clean energy resources will be critical in reducing the electric sector emissions and achieving national climate goals. Rapid technological improvements can help keep costs low and maintain grid reliability, if Korea’s government takes a coordinated approach to the clean energy transition. This policy brief identifies key barriers to Korea’s shift toward clean energy, based on the authors’companion report (A Clean Energy Korea by 2035: Transitioning to 80% Carbon-Free Electricity Generation), interviews with experts, and the most recent data and literature. It then explores policy solutions for overcoming these technological, economic, and institutional barriers, and suggests market transformation strategies to speed the adoption of clean energy technologies. Amid ongoing cost and technological improvements in wind, solar, and energy storage, advancing this report’s recommended policy actions with maximum coordination among government officials can meaningfully accelerate Korea’s clean energy transition.

2023-04-17 / LBNL, University of California, Berkeley, NEXT Group

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.

2023-04-17 / LBNL, University of California, Berkeley, NEXT Group

This issue brief aims to draw policy implications for the power grid of Korea by examining the case of grid innovation in the UK, which has successfully achieved decarbonization of the power sector by establishing a renewable energy-centric power grid despite the constraints of being an island nation. Lessons learned for Korea: The required amount of control resources for system stability should be analyzed based on future scenarios and these control resources should be secured cost-effectively through an auction system. Optimal grid construction plans should be designed by conducting scenario-based economic evaluations and the decision-making processes should be transparently disclosed through reports for public discussion. In order to avoid grid constraint costs and social conflicts associated with onshore transmission line construction while achieving decarbonization of the power sector, Korea should also actively consider the implementation of offshore HVDC.

2023-03-30 / Yunsik Chung, Eunsung Kim, Yonghyun Song

We evaluated the economic costs of the transition to a more sustainable energy system in South Korea to achieve carbon net zero emissions (NZE) by 2050. The analysis presented that to achieve this goal, it is necessary to reduce the use of fossil fuel-based power generation, increase the development of carbon-free power sources, and secure storage facilities. We calculated the total costs of energy storage for the Path-to-NDC, Path-to-NZE A, and Path-to-NZE B scenarios. We also investigated the effects of renewable energy output control, demand pattern adjustments, and hydrogen storage on the investment costs of energy storage. Using sensitivity analysis, we studied the consequences of a zero-curtailment policy, excluding long-term storage, and increasing nuclear power generation. Our findings provided invaluable insights into the potential of these solutions to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable power system in South Korea.

2023-03-27 / Hee Seung Moon, Yong Hyun Song, Ji Woo Lee, Sanghyun Hong, Eunsung Kim, Seung Wan Kim

This study is an insight on the United Kingdom’s coal phase out. It charts the UK’s journey out of coal and the transformation of the power system over the past decade. This study was presented at the webinar entitled “The UK’s Energy Transition and Lessons Learned for Korea’s Power Grid Reform” with the British Embassy in Seoul and NEXT Group, and includes the learnings from the UK experience which may benefit countries such as South Korea.

2023-03-24 / Ember, NEXT Group

This webinar aims to share analytical results on the policy and market factors that led to the UK’s early energy transition and lessons learned for Korea's power grid reform.

2023-03-14 / NEXT Group