Public hearing held on the 24th to collect public opinion… finalized at the end of this month
Nuclear power plant is eco-friendly, but can not be solved to realize carbon neutrality
[에너지신문] A public hearing was held on the 24th at the KEPCO Art Center to collect opinions on the 9th Basic Electric Power Supply and Demand Plan.
On this day, only the minimum number of participants, including presenters, attended the public hearing in accordance with the government’s quarantine guidelines, and it was conducted in a real-time online broadcast through YouTube. Following the announcement of the main contents of the 9th Basic Electric Power Supply and Demand Plan, experts’ answers to the preliminary inquiries received in advance.
The contents of the announcement are the same as the previous government draft. After peaking at 26 units in 2024, the number of nuclear power plants was reduced in stages and reduced to 17 units in 2034, and renewable energy was set to a cumulative target of 42.7 GW in 2025 by combining solar and wind power.
In the last eighth plan, coal is going to be drastically reduced by abolishing 20 additional units. A total of 24 coal-fired power plants are replaced by LNG power generation through facility conversion, and through this, LNG power generation will increase to 59.1 GW in 2034.
Subsequent Q&A was conducted in the form of expert answers by selecting prior questions. In the preliminary inquiries collected prior to this public hearing, it is known that the most frequently asked questions about the exclusion of Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 were. Regarding this, the answer was that “for the purpose of establishing the basic power supply and demand plan, the’facilities with uncertain stable power supply’ were excluded from the supply plan, so they were inevitably reflected.”
In addition, when asked whether a nuclear power plant is necessary to realize carbon neutrality in 2050, he said, “Nuclear power plants are eco-friendly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, but cannot be a fundamental solution for carbon neutrality due to the problem of spent fuel and public acceptance.”
Regarding new coal power plants, 50% of coal power plants are being abolished by 2034, and drastic reductions are being promoted, but the abolition is not possible without the voluntary consent of power generation companies, so it is necessary to discuss closely with them.
In the inquiry, it was pointed out that the electric power supply and demand plan was supposed to focus on the stability of supply and demand and economic feasibility, but it was pointed out that the 9th plan was oriented toward the environment. In response, experts pointed out that this plan was a comprehensive review of not only supply and demand stability, but also economic feasibility and environmental efficiency, and was not biased toward specific areas.
In addition, regarding the situation in which LNG power generation is increasing due to fuel conversion, it is true that “LNG is more eco-friendly than coal, but it still emits carbon.” I will do it.”
“If it is judged that the GHG reduction target cannot be achieved, we will pursue additional upper limit restrictions on coal power plants,” said Yohan Yoon, head of the Ministry of Industry. “This 9th power supply and demand plan was the first to receive a strategic environmental impact assessment. It took a lot of time to confirm.”
The Ministry of Industry is planning to finalize the 9th electricity supply and demand plan at the end of this month after a public hearing on that day, after a resolution by the Electric Power Policy Council.
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