With S. Korea's recent regime change renewable energy sector is having greater change than ever. Heavy reliance and nuclear and fossil fuel will be lifted soon and renewable energy is coming back. Here's snapshot of what can be done in S. Korea's renewable energy development.

1. 4 Sept. 2017

2. Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. 2007 Renewable Status
III. 2014 Renewable Status
IV. Recent World Renewable Energy Status
V. What happened to S. Korea’s Renewable energy?
VI. Foreseeable renewable energy policy change
VII. Conclusion

3. I. Introduction
During last 9 years from 2008 to 2016, S. Korea has built more nuclear power plant than any other country in
the world next to China. This proved that Green Growth policy of Lee Myung-Park, one of the former
president of S. Korea, is nothing but a political rhetoric.
After Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in 2011, the nuclear power plant is the least popular power
source but not in S. Korea even with Green Growth policy. Not only nuclear but also coal fired power plants
have been built more during the time and caused a lot of environmental issues such as serious air pollution in
S. Korea.
In order to comprehend what happened to renewable energy of S. Korea, we have to understand how Green
Growth policy has screwed up and what happened to renewable energy development in S. Korea. We
reviewed public data on International electricity generation statistics and compared the data between 2007
and 2014. The result is quite surprising. The data gives us the clear snapshot of world wide energy source for
electricity generation. The data also gives us which renewable energy source is popular and how much
renewable energy source contributes to the electrical power generation of each country.
The source of the data used here is mostly from US Energy Information Administration (https://www.eia.gov)
that has the world energy data and their service is still in beta.

4. II. 2007 Renewable Status - Renewable/Electricity World Top 20
Rank Country 2007(R/E) Rank Country 2007(R/E)
1 Iceland 30.23% 11 Nicaragua 14.06%
2 Denmark 29.49% 12 Finland 13.11%
3 El Salvador 26.33% 13 Germany 12.05%
4 Kenya 20.19% 14 Papua New Guinea 12.02%
5 Guatemala 18.86% 15 New Zealand 11.97%
6 Philippines 17.69% 16 Spain 11.19%
7 Mauritius 17.55% 17 Austria 11.02%
8 Costa Rica 16.61% 18 Sudan 9.45%
9 Belize 15.86% 19 Guadeloupe 9.15%
10 Portugal 14.34% 20 Netherlands 9.00%
78 Turkey 0.44% 87 Korea, South 0.27%
The Renewable/Electricity percentage ratio is about how much renewable energy source is contributed to
electricity generation of a country. The higher the better.
Source:https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/data/browser/#/?pa=00000000000000000000000000000fvu&c=ruvvvvvfvtvnvv1urvvvvfvvvvvvfvvvo
u20evvvvvvvvvnvvuvs&ct=0&tl_id=2-A&vs=INTL.2-12-AFG-BKWH.A&cy=2014&vo=0&v=H&start=2005&end=2015

5. II. 2007 Renewable Status - 2007 Solar/Electricity World Top 20
Rank Country 2007(S/E) Rank Country 2007(S/E)
1 Luxembourg 0.78% 11 Kenya 0.15%
2 Eritrea 0.74% 12 Cambodia 0.14%
3 Germany 0.51% 13 Rwanda 0.13%
4 Nepal 0.32% 14 Senegal 0.08%
5 Cook Islands 0.32% 15 Belize 0.08%
6 Reunion 0.20% 16 Bangladesh 0.07%
7 Japan 0.19% 17 Portugal 0.05%
8 Spain 0.18% 18 Australia 0.05%
9 Samoa 0.18% 19 Cyprus 0.04%
10 Sri Lanka 0.17% 20 Switzerland 0.04%
35 Korea, South 0.02% ?? Turkey 0.00%
The Solar/Electricity percentage ratio is about how much solar energy source contributes to electricity
generation of a country. Solar energy does not consist that much of power generation source in 2007.
Source:https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/data/browser/#/?pa=0000000000000000000000000000008&c=ruvvvvvfvtvvvv1vvvvvvfvvvvv
vfvvvsu20evvvvvvvvvvvvuvg&ct=0&tl_id=2-A&vs=INTL.34-12-AFG-BKWH.A&cy=2014&vo=0&v=H&start=2005&end=2014&vid=6

6. II. 2007 Renewable Status - 2007 Wind/Electricity World Top 20
Rank Country 2007(W/E) Rank Country 2007(W/E)
1 Denmark 19.12% 11 Cape Verde 2.77%
2 Spain 9.76% 12 Netherlands Antilles 2.48%
3 Portugal 8.93% 13 Luxembourg 2.37%
4 Ireland 7.63% 14 Costa Rica 2.26%
5 Germany 6.69% 15 New Caledonia 2.18%
6 Faroe Islands 6.07% 16 New Zealand 2.11%
7 Netherlands 3.43% 17 Falkland Islands 1.84%
8 Austria 3.33% 18 Morocco 1.56%
9 Greece 3.06% 19 India 1.55%
10 Guadeloupe 3.05% 20 United Kingdom 1.44%
42 Turkey 0.22% 51 Korea, South 0.10%
The Wind/Electricity percentage ratio is about how much wind power source contributes to electricity generation
of a country. Wind power energy consist the biggest renewable energy source in some country.
Source:https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/data/browser/index.cfm#/?pa=00000000000000000000000000000004&c=ruvvvvvfvtvvvv1vvvvv
vfvvvvvvfvvvsu20evvvvvvvvvvvvuvg&ct=0&ug=8&tl_id=2-A&vs=INTL.116-12-AFG-BKWH.A&cy=2014&vo=0&v=H&start=2005&end=2015

7. III. 2014 Renewable Status - 2014 Renewable/Electricity World Top 20
Rank Country 2014(R/E) Rank Country 2014(R/E)
1 Denmark 59.58% 11 Germany 25.44%
2 Kenya 46.60% 12 Luxembourg 25.02%
3 Nicaragua 46.35% 13 Costa Rica 24.36%
4 Lithuania 37.27% 14 Italy 24.19%
5 Falkland Islands 33.33% 15 Guatemala 23.96%
6 El Salvador 32.98% 16 New Zealand 23.68%
7 Portugal 32.25% 17 Ireland 23.31%
8 Iceland 29.16% 18 Finland 20.18%
9 Cape Verde 28.57% 19 United Kingdom 19.58%
10 Spain 27.16% 20 Belgium 19.47%
53 Turkey 5.05% 82 Korea, South 1.24%
The Renewable/Electricity percentage ratio has been significantly increased in most European country and
contributes almost half of power source to some country. Korea is lagging behind other OECD member states.
Source:https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/data/browser/index.cfm#/?pa=00000000000000000000000000000004&c=ruvvvvvfvtvvvv1vvvvvvfvv
vvvvfvvvsu20evvvvvvvvvvvvuvg&ct=0&ug=8&tl_id=2-A&vs=INTL.116-12-AFG-BKWH.A&cy=2014&vo=0&v=H&start=2005&end=2015

8. III. 2014 Renewable Status - 2014 Solar/Electricity World Top 20
Rank Country 2014(S/E) Rank Country 2014(S/E)
1 Italy 8.36% 11 Romania 2.60%
2 Greece 7.90% 12 Japan 2.50%
3 Luxembourg 6.87% 13 Slovakia 2.34%
4 Germany 6.10% 14 Lithuania 2.26%
5 Spain 5.17% 15 Australia 2.06%
6 Belgium 4.26% 16 Cyprus 1.95%
7 Malta 3.31% 17 Denmark 1.91%
8 Mauritania 2.95% 18 Dominican Republic 1.67%
9 Bulgaria 2.82% 19 Slovenia 1.56%
10 Czech Republic 2.64% 20 Israel 1.47%
34 Korea, South 0.50% 74 Turkey 0.01%
Solar energy contributes less than 10% of power generation source and has not been increased that much from
2007 compared to wind power.
Source:https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/data/browser/index.cfm#/?pa=00000000000000000000000000000004&c=ruvvvvvfvtvvvv1vvvvv
vfvvvvvvfvvvsu20evvvvvvvvvvvvuvg&ct=0&ug=8&tl_id=2-A&vs=INTL.116-12-AFG-BKWH.A&cy=2014&vo=0&v=H&start=2005&end=2015

9. III. 2014 Renewable Status - 2014 Wind/Electricity World Top 20
Rank Country 2014(W/E) Rank Country 2014(W/E)
1 Denmark 41.68% 11 United Kingdom 10.10%
2 Falkland Islands 33.33% 12 Romania 9.94%
3 Cape Verde 28.57% 13 Germany 9.70%
4 Portugal 24.05% 14 Greece 7.69%
5 Ireland 20.87% 15 Sweden 7.48%
6 Lithuania 20.69% 16 Costa Rica 7.29%
7 Nicaragua 19.68% 17 Morocco 7.09%
8 Spain 19.67% 18 Belgium 6.82%
9 Aruba 17.68% 19 Austria 6.54%
10 Faroe Islands 11.78% 20 Netherlands 5.92%
34 Turkey 3.56% 65 Korea, South 0.22%
Wind power became biggest renewable energy source and the biggest power generation contributor in some
country.
Source:https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/data/browser/#/?pa=0000000000000000000000000000001&c=ruvvvvvfvtvnvv1urvvvvfvvvvvvf
vvvou20evvvvvvvvvnvvuvs&ct=0&ug=8&tl_id=2-A&vs=INTL.37-12-AFG-BKWH.A&cy=2014&vo=0&v=H&start=2005&end=2015&showdm=y

10. 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
World Electricity Generation By Non Fossile Fuel Source
Nuclear Hydro Geobiomass Wind Solar
778.7
2,616.5
Adapted from BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2017
In 2016 renewable energy power generation surpasses nuclear power generation for the first time
Source: http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/en/corporate/excel/energy-economics/statistical-review-2017/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2017-
underpinning-data.xlsx
TWh* Terawatt-hour
959.5
2,762.8
VI. Recent World Renewable Energy Status

11. Non hydropower renewable energy is gaining momentum and will surpass hydropower about 2040
VI. Recent World Renewable Energy Status
Source: https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/ieo/electricity.php
The renewable share of world electricity
generation grows from 22% in 2012 to 29% in
2040. Generation from nonhydropower
renewables is the predominant source of the
increase, rising by an average of 5.7%/year and
outpacing increases in natural gas (2.7%/year),
nuclear (2.4%/year), and coal (0.8%/year).
Solar is the world’s fastest-growing form of
renewable energy, with net solar generation
increasing by an average of 8.3%/year. Of the 5.9
trillion kWh of new renewable generation added
over the projection period, hydroelectric and wind
each account for 1.9 trillion kWh (33%), solar
energy for 859 billion kWh (15%), and other
renewables (mostly biomass and waste) for 856
billion kWh (14%).

12. V. What happened to S. Korea’s renewable energy?
In order to find out what happened to S. Korea’s renewable we have to get familiarized to the concept and detail of Green
Growth policy defined by former president of S. Korea, Lee Myungbark. The definition of Green growth is well described at
Wikipedia as follow.
“Green growth is a term to describe a path of economic growth that uses natural resources in a sustainable manner.”
The next thing we need to look into is how S. Korean economy responded with Green Growth. Here’s what happened.
- S. Korea’s economic growth weakened due to poor export market.
- Aging population of S. Korea is expected to dampen domestic economic growth and consumer demand.
- S. Korea’s heavy industry such as steel, shipbuilding and automobile looses competitiveness due to global economic
downturn.
- Heavy reliance on nuclear and fossil fuel energy begins to rebalance due to diminishing energy demand.
To briefly summarize Green Growth policy did not accomplish economic growth nor make use of natural resources in a
sustainable manner in S. Korea.

13. What we have discovered from international
renewable energy data is that S. Korea places at
82nd rank in 2014.
Increased use of nuclear and fossil fuel has
brought serious environmental problem like air
pollution and nuclear safety issue.
Even with Fukushima nuclear disaster S. Korea is
reluctant to reduce nuclear dependency on
electrical power generation.
S. Korea’s dependency on fossil fuel and nuclear
has increased despite Green Grow policy,
therefore we can conclude Green growth is just a
meaningless political rhetoric.
V. What happened to S. Korea’s renewable?

14. Back in 2011 S. Korea’s national electricity
company, KEPCO tried to increase the use of
renewable energy source for their electrical
power generation by benchmarking Spain that
has similar power capacity to S. Korea.
KEPCO planned wind power as a primary
renewable energy to catch up with Spain but
failed miserably as wind power is only 0.22%
of S. Korea’s electricity source while Spain’s
wind power is over 15% in 2014
V. What happened to S. Korea’s renewable?
2020 S. Korea electricity power generation estimation by source

15. Nuclear
21%
Hydroelectricity
15%
Wind
19%
Solar
5%
Biomass and
Waste
2%
Fossil Fuels
38%
S. Korea tried to benchmark renewable
energy development of Spain that has
almost same electrical power capacity to S.
Korea from 2011 but it has not been
successful so far.
S. Korea’s electricity power generation
surpasses Spain in 2014 but S. Korea’s
renewable energy is about 1.24% while
Spain is about 27.16% at the same year.
Spain’s biggest renewable energy source is
wind power whereas S. Korea’s is solar in
2014 but only 0.5% of energy source.
2014 Spain electricity generation by source
V. What happened to S. Korea’s renewable?

16. Tide and Wave
S. Korea’s renewable energy source for electricity
generation has grown from 2007, 0.27%(87th in the
world) to 2014, 1.24%(82th in the world) while Spain
is 11.18% (16th in the world) and 27.16% (10th in the
world) respectively.
S. Korea’s renewable energy is not only grown poorly
but also could not catch up the normal pace of
renewable growth.
No country in the world has 1 figure renewable
energy except those countries under dictatorship nor
at civil war.
S. Korea’s heavy dependency on fossil fuel and
nuclear has caused a lot of environmental issues and
their air quality became one of the worst in the world
next to China’s.
2014 S. Korea Electricity Generation by Source
V. What happened to S. Korea’s renewable?

17. VI. Foreseeable renewable energy policy change
S. Korea’s renewable energy policy will be revamped
to catch up with OECD average within short period of
time.
In order to achieve this S. Korea government will
1. Change policy on new nuclear power plant
construction.
2. Benchmark renewable energy of OECD average.
3. Start building renewable power plant for easy to
install source first.
4. Educate S. Korean public on renewable energy to
increase its acceptance.
5. Find way to counterbalance against those who
oppose renewable energy.
2014 OECD Electricity Generation by Source

18. 1. Change policy on new nuclear power plant construction
Planned construction of 7 new nuclear power plant will be
stopped shortly by newly elected government as S. Korea’s
dependency on nuclear and fossil fuel is already too much for
electricity generation compared to other industrialized countries
or OECD members.
Current S. Korea’s renewable energy use is as poor as that of
underdeveloped country due to the excessive use of fossil fuel
and nuclear and former governments energy policy.
The cost of nuclear power plant has been much underestimated
not considering the hidden cost related to disposal of spent
nuclear fuel, decommissioning and other cost such as nuclear
safety cost to prevent possible disaster.
To remedy this issue current plan on new nuclear power plant
construction will be stopped shortely by new government.

19. 2. Benchmark renewable energy of OECD average
2014 EU15 Electricity Generation by SourceS. Korea’s lateness in renewable energy use will
be addressed immediately to slow down climate
change and air pollution in S. Korea.
OECD average of renewable energy will be
more reasonable benchmark target than more
advanced EU15 renewable energy use.
International organization and community will
criticize S. Korea’s slow renewable energy
adoption and slow response to climate change.

20. 3. Start building renewable power plant easier to install first
In order to catch up OECD average on renewable energy
adoption within short period of time S. Korea will install
renewable power plant as soon as possible.
To achieve this rapid renewable energy adoption the
installation of solar (photovoltaic) power plant and on-shore
wind power farm is believed to be primary renewable energy
source for short term.
In order to increase public acceptance on renewable energy
various government incentive will be offered to renewable
energy sector.
Progress of solar (photovoltaic) and wind power technology
will be also addressed to S. Korean public to increase
renewable energy acceptance.

21. 4. Educate S. Korea public
Technical development of solar and wind
power during last 10 years will to be informed
to S. Korea public.
Government will inform S. Korean public on
poor status of renewable energy growth.
Nuclear friendly media and public opinion of
S. Korea will be changed with government’s
public relation.
International experts to advocate
renewable energy will be invited to S. Korean
public.
Fabricated negative image of renewable
energy will be dealt with S. Korean
government and stakeholders of renewable
energy sector.

22. 5. Short term Counterbalance against renewable opposition
Structured resistance in S. Korea against renewable exits and counterbalance
against it also required. The epic center of structured resistance against
renewable energy is the misuse of RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) and RPS
will be returned to Renewable Energy Target (RET)Scheme.
RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) seems to be the prime cause of renewable
energy decline as the use of renewable energy drastically slowed after its
adoption. (S. Korea is currently 82nd rank for renewable energy use for electricity
generation and 10th for electricity generation)
Under RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) electricity companies such as
KEPCO and their sister power generation companies is to produce a specified
fraction of their electricity from renewable energy sources however they
minimized the use of renewable energy source to build more nuclear power plant.
California state government forced car makers to produce a specified fraction of
their cars zero emission however it did not improve the air quality just like RPS to
renewable energy.

23. 6. Long term counterbalance against renewable opposition
Drastic measure on renewable energy will be employed to counterbalance against
fierce renewable opposition.
Government will declare national agenda on improving renewable energy to jumpstart
- Set specific year on year numbered target on renewable energy improvement
- Give incentive on renewable energy to accelerate improvement.
Government may divide or spin off KEPCO to counterbalance renewable opposition.
- Bring competition on power transportation and distribution to revamp single national
grid.
- Escalate single national grid issue as a national security issue.
- 2nd or 3rd KEPCO will be more rely on renewable energy power generation and will
open the possibility to export electricity to Japan and China.

24. VI. Conclusion
 Government’s short term solution to improve renewable energy use is to stop RPS immediately.
- Increase renewable energy acceptance by educating general public
- Set renewable energy as the national agenda with numbered year on year target.
- Remove KEPCO from any renewable energy project because KEPCO is the prime obstacle to renewable
energy
 Government’s long term solution to renewable energy is to spin off KEPCO into 2 or 3 different entities
- Single national grid system with single electricity transportation and distribution company is national
security issue
- 2nd or 3rd electricity company with additional grid systems will open the possibility to export electricity to
China and Japan with multiple grid backup.

25. Thank You!
imcorpkorea@gmail.com