Water vapor is emanating from the chimney of the Seoincheon Combined Cycle Power Plant as viewed from the Ara Tower Observatory in Oryu-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon. News 1
The government officially announced the 9th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, which contains the details of shutting down 30 old coal power plants by 2034 and replacing them with liquefied natural gas (LNG) power generation. In fact, it is the final plan of the government’s conversion of power generation sources to “reduce coal and nuclear power generation and expand LNG and renewable energy”.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a public hearing on the 24th and released the ‘9th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand (2020~2034)’. In accordance with the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) quarantine rules, only some officials, including the subject speaker and debater, attended the site and broadcast live on YouTube.
According to the 9th Electric Power Plan, first of all, 30 coal power plants with 30 years of operation until 2034 will be abolished. However, to stabilize supply and demand, 24 of these will be converted to LNG power generation. Accordingly, the capacity of coal power plants will decrease from 35.8 GW (58 units) this year to 29.0 GW (37 units) in 2034.
In accordance with the principle of prohibiting new and extended life, the number of nuclear power plants will be reduced to 17 units by 2034 after peaking at 26 units in 2022 when Shinhanul units 1 and 2 are completed. From 2023 to 2034, Shin-Kori Units 5 and 6 will be completed and 11 old generators will be shut down. The nuclear facility capacity will be reduced from 23.3GW (24 units) at present to 19.4GW (17 units) in 2034. Shinhanul Units 3 and 4, whose construction has been suspended, are excluded from the power supply source.
The facility capacity of LNG power generation will increase from 41.3GW this year to 58.1GW in 2034. By 2024, the Yeoju Complex, Tongyeong Complex, Eumseong Natural Gas, and Ulsan GPS were constructed, and by 2034, old coal power plants were converted to LNG power plants.
The capacity of new and renewable energy facilities will increase from 20.1 GW this year to 77.8 GW in 2034 by about four times, reflecting the renewable energy 3020, hydrogen economy activation roadmap, and the Green New Deal plan. As of 2025, the median target for renewable energy generation facilities has been raised from the previous 29.9GW to 42.7GW. It means that it will accelerate the supply of renewable energy.
According to this plan, the composition ratio by power generation source based on effective capacity in 2034 will be LNG (47.3%), coal (22.7%), nuclear power plants (15.5%), renewable energy (8.6%), and others (5.9%). Compared to this year, LNG increases by 9.9 percentage points, renewables increase by 5.3 percentage points, and coal decreases by 9.2 percentage points, and nuclear power plants decrease by 5.5 percentage points.
The plan also included a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the conversion sector to 139 million tons by 2030. This is a 23.6% decrease from 252 million tons in 2017.
At the public hearing on that day, criticism continued on the plan for the post-nuclear power plant. When asked, “To realize carbon neutrality, shouldn’t we reconsider the plan to reduce nuclear power plants with low carbon emissions?” said Yohan Yoon, head of the power industry section of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, “It is true that nuclear power plants are effective in reducing greenhouse gases, but Considering the demand and disposal of spent nuclear fuel, it is difficult to become a sustainable alternative.”
Regarding the argument that the expansion of LNG power generation could rather become an obstacle to the realization of carbon neutrality, Yoon said, “LNG power generation also emits greenhouse gases, but in the process of abolishing coal power generation and expanding new and renewable energy, it will be used as alternative power for the time being. “I answered.
The government will hold the Electric Power Policy Deliberation Committee on the 28th as soon as possible and finalize and announce the 9th Basic Electric Power Supply and Demand Plan. There are also criticisms that the public hearing on this day was limited to food service. Professor Joo Han-gyu of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Seoul National University criticized, “It means that it is an act of catering, not collecting opinions, to hold a public hearing on Christmas Eve on the 24th and finalize the plan for this year, saying that we will inform the public and listen to their opinions.”
Kijoong Kim reporter [email protected]
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