• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.109-119
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• 2021

The Korean government recently announced a plan of the Carbon Neutral policy in addition to the Green New Deal of the Korean New Deal and the Renewable Energy 3020. The energy sector is entering the era of major transformation involving the expansion of decarbonization, decentralization, and digitalization. DNA-oriented ICT technology will be incorporated into the sector. Further, new energy industries and services are being realized via efficient and smart operation and by appropriately managing the energy-environment changes. Recently, ETRI presented a technology development map for 2035 comprising 12 new concepts in four major fields(personal, social, industrial and public) of national intelligence. This map includes the concept of "Energy Maestro" associated with the field of public intelligence for human sustainability. This paper briefly introduces this concept and ETRI's Energy-R&D status. Based on the domain knowledge and the experience acquired through the R&D, ETRI will lead to a new paradigm with respect to the creation of new energy services and industries via the incorporation of the new ICT technologies including AI and big-data into the energy sector.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.72-84
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• 2022

As the threat of climate change escalates, 'net-zero' has become a priority for the international community, and the use of new and renewable energy sources is expected to play a significant role in reaching international carbon neutrality. Here, we evaluate technological competitiveness in terms of implementation and technology by analyzing scientific literature and patents in the new and renewable energy fields of five major countries. For the past 10 years (2009-2019), the most active areas of new and renewable energy research and development have been solar power, wind power, waste, and fuel cells. China is the forerunner in implementation, whereas the United States has the most advanced technology. Portfolio analysis revealed that Korea's fuel cell, the United States' bioenergy, China's waste, Japan's solar and fuel cell, and the European Union's wind power have shown to be in Star Field respectively. Technological competitiveness analysis found that Korea is lagging behind other countries in the new and renewable energy sector, and needs to set a new direction for future carbon-neutral research and development, investment, and policy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2021.05a
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• pp.41-42
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• 2021

The Green New Deal policy was established to innovate the government's energy consumption structure, establish a third basic energy plan to strengthen the global competitiveness of the energy industry, and realize a carbon neutral society due to the increased need for transition to a low-carbon economy. Waterworks such as drinking water, water purification plant, and pressurization plant analyze control factors and energy consumption status by process to improve energy management efficiency and reduce energy usage through the 4th industrial revolution. Ultimately, we want to realize net-zero water purification plant.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.38-51
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• 2024

The rapid expansion of industrialization and population growth worldwide has led to a significant surge in energy demand, perpetuating heavy reliance on finite fossil fuel reserves. Although prevailing policies primarily target ground-mounted solar photovoltaics, there is a noticeable increase in the adoption of floating solar power generation systems on water surfaces. Nonetheless, adequate studies and legislative reviews on offshore solar photovoltaics in Korea are lacking. The absence of well-defined criteria for the economic analysis of floating solar photovoltaics presents hurdles to their economic feasibility. This study conducted a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of offshore photovoltaics to evaluate their economic viability and compared four types of solar photovoltaics based on the operating area and technology: ground-mounted, floating on inland water, pontoon-based offshore, and flexible system offshore. Perspectives from both central and local government entities, emphasizing social aspects, as well as inputs from private companies with a financial focus were considered. The findings revealed variations in economic viability depending on the operating area and technology employed. This study aims to contribute to the advancement of market maturity and technology within the realm of offshore solar photovoltaics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.177-185
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• 2022

In this study, the economic feasibility of a local energy facility that uses forest biomass as an energy source was assessed. We analyzed profitability using data from the Forest Energy Self-sufficient Village Project financed by the Korea Forest Service. The energy facility has a cogeneration generator and wood chip boiler. Wood chip, which has lower heat value and is cheaper than wood pellets, is used as fuel. Revenue comes from the sale of electricity, heat, and renewable energy certificates. Additionally, we considered the sale of carbon credits as substitutes for fossil fuels. The expenditure consists of fuel costs and fixed costs, and the initial investment is treated as a sunk cost. Under the condition of a 55% operation rate and wood chip price of 95,000 KRW per ton, the annual net revenue is positive. Crucial factors for managing the facility sustainably are operation rate and fuel cost. A simulation in which two factors were changed showed that the annual net revenue is negative with a 50% operation rate and 100,000 KRW per ton of wood chip price. To improve net revenue, an increase in the operation rate or a decrease in the wood chip price is required. Additionally, selling carbon credits will make the operation of the facility more profitable. Furthermore, the payment required to procure wood chips could contribute to the rural economy. To foster the use of forest biomass for energy, the price for heat supplied from renewable energy sources should be subsidized.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2023

This study aimed to derive the basic wood density, one of several carbon emission factors, for carbon accounting of bamboo forests in Korea. Bamboo is mainly distributed in Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do provinces, and 101 sample trees were selected for each of the three species (Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis, P. bambusoides, and P. pubescens). The basic wood density derivation used the KS F 2098 method. The measurements showed that the basic wood density was 0.83 g/cm³ for P. nigra var. henonis, 0.81 g/cm³ for P. bambusoides, and 0.72 g/cm³ for P. pubescens. However, the bamboo distribution area in Korea is not very large, and P. pubescens grows in one area only. Therefore, the basic wood density that can be applied to bamboo was 0.79 g/cm³. Evaluation of the uncertainty of the extracted basic wood density showed a very low value of 1.61%, which confirmed the reliability of the basic wood density derived from this analysis. The basic wood density, biomass expansion factor, and root-to-shoot ratio were used to calculate the carbon storage capacity of one bamboo plant and expanded to calculate the capacity for a hectare of bamboo. Carbon storage and absorption of bamboo were calculated by applying a carbon-emission factor, such as the basic wood density. These study results are expected to contribute to the carbon-neutral policy and forest management direction in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.4
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• pp.667-675
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• 2022

Agroforestry is an ecological and economic land-use system that enables sustainable agriculture by combining forestry, agriculture, and livestock industries. North Korea chose agroforestry as a strategy for the restoration of sloping land and deforested land. Agroforestry was proposed for the inter-Korean forest cooperation subcommittee meeting and is currently highlighting carbon removal and promoting the '2050 Carbon Neutral Strategy' and 'Korea Peninsula Green Détente.' The study area, Suan-gun, Hwanghaebuk-do, is a constant deforestation monitoring area and a pilot site for management by the International Center for Research in Agroforestry. The requirements for agroforestry were analyzed through literature analysis. The agroforestry site-suitability map was visualized by applying GIS overlap analysis. Approximately 8,839 ha of sloping area was selected as suitable for agroforestry management, which is about 15% of Suan. We compared the map with Google Earth images and visually detected the land use status, such as agroforestry in Suan, to verify the results. As a future study, we will consider both natural-environment and socioeconomic factors and evaluate the relative importance of the factors to produce a high-accuracy agroforestry sitesuitability map at the national scale with the goal of producing basic data for the inter-Korea forest cooperation policy for long-term goals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1-13
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• 2021

This study was performed to investigate the ecosystem service patterns in relation to climate change acceleration utilizing big data analysis. This study aimed to use big data analysis as one of the network of views to identify convergent thinking in two fields: climate change and ecosystem service. The keywords were analysed to ascertain if there were any differences in the perceiving problems, policy direction, climate change implications, and regional differences. In addition, we examined the research keywords of each continent, the centre of ecosystem service research, and the topics to be referred to in domestic research. The results of the analysis are as follows: First, the keyword centrality of climate change is similar to the detailed indicators of The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) regulations, content, and non-material ecosystem services. Second, the cross-analysis of terms in two journals showed a difference in value-oriented point; the Ecosystem Service Journal identified green infrastructure as having economic value, whereas the Climate Change Journal perceives water, forest, carbon, and biodiversity as management topics. The Climate Change Journal, but not the former, focuses on future predictions. Third, the analysis of the research topics according to continents showed that water and soil are closely related to the economy, and thus, play an important role in policy formulation. This disparity is due to differences in each continent's environmental characteristics, as well as economic and policy issues. This fact can be used to refer to the direction of research on ecosystem services in Korea. Consistent with the recent trend of expanding research regarding the impacts of climate change, it is necessary to study strategies to scientifically predict and respond to the negative effects of climate change.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.127-146
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• 2013

Torrefaction technologies convert assorted biomass feedstocks into energy-concentrated, carbon neutral fuel that is economically transported and easily ground for blending with fossil coals at numerous power plants around the world without needs to retrofit. Utilization of torrefied biomass in conventional electric generating units may be an increasingly attractive alternative for electricity generation as aging power plants in the world need to be upgraded or improved. This paper examines the economic feasibility of torrefaction in different scenarios by modeling torrefaction plants producing 136,078 t/year (150,000 ton/year) biocoal from wood and corn stover. The utilization of biocoal blends in existing coal-fired power plants is modeled to determine the demand for this fuel in the context of emerging policies regulating emissions from coal in the U.S. setting. Opportunities to co-locate torrefaction facilities adjacent to corn ethanol plants and coal-fired power plants are explored as means to improve economics for collaborating businesses. Life cycle analysis was conducted in parallel to this economic study and was used to determine environmental impacts of converting biomass to biocoal for blending in coal-fired power plants as well as the use of substantial flows of off-gasses produced in the torrefaction process. Sensitivity analysis of the financial rates of return of the different businesses has been performed to measure impacts of different factors, whether input prices, output prices, or policy measures that render costs or rewards for the businesses.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.4
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• pp.530-543
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• 2023

Societal value of the benefits forests provide has grown significantly, given their pivotal role in mitigating climate change and fostering the shift toward a carbon-neutral society. Due to the economic and public value of forests, which extends far beyond landowners and foresters, the forestry sector mutually interacts with society as a whole. Thus, understanding public perceptions and preferences concerning forests and forest policies from the societal viewpoint is vital for shaping future forest policy decisions. This research delved into evolving perceptions over the past 32 years, using a time-series analysis of data gathered from the 'Public awareness survey on forests'. This survey, conducted seven times between 1991 and 2023 by opinion poll agents, provides insights into changing sentiments. The findings reveal a notable increase in public satisfaction with overall forest policies. Specifically, positive sentiments were observed regarding forest rehabilitation, forest trails, education initiatives, and the establishment and functioning of forest recreation facilities. Conversely, the study highlights areas where public satisfaction remained relatively low, notably in matters concerning the use and conversion of mountainous regions, forest disaster prevention, and international forest cooperation. Additionally, the respondents emphasized the need for heightened attention to forest management, the development of forest roads, and increased efforts in overseas afforestation compared to current initiatives.