• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nuclear energy policy

Search Result 181, Processing Time 0.023 seconds

New Businesses and Challenges related to Japan's Electricity System Reform (일본 전력시스템개혁에 따른 지능형 사업 발전과 도전과제)

  • Park, Chan-Kook;Kim, Yang-Soo
    • Journal of Digital Convergence
    • /
    • v.13 no.9
    • /
    • pp.1-9
    • /
    • 2015
  • The Japanese government has carried out the power industry reform in three phases to supply power stably, control the rise of electricity tariff, and expand consumer choices. The reform of the Japanese electric power industry fosters new kinds of businesses as well as changes the competitive structure in which the enterprises participating electricity business compete. However, for the power industry restructuring to be done smoothly, the accompanying tasks should be carried out. Korea has also been devoting a lot of efforts to cultivate various types of new industries based on the convergence of energy and information and communications technology. If there are the same kinds of new industries between the two countries, the progresses of the industries can be compared to each other over a period of time.

A System Dynamics Approach for Valuing Nuclear Power Technology (System Dynamics를 이용한 원자력발전의 기술가치 평가)

  • Lee, Yong-Suk
    • Korean System Dynamics Review
    • /
    • v.7 no.2
    • /
    • pp.57-80
    • /
    • 2006
  • Nuclear technology made a great contribution to the national economy and society by localization of nuclear power plant design, and by stabilization of electricity price, etc. It is very important to conduct the retrospective analysis for the nuclear technology contribution to the national economy and society, but it is more important to conduct prospective analysis for the nuclear technology contribution. The term "technology value" is often used in the prospective analysis to value the result of technology development. There are various definitions of technology value, but generally it means the increment of future revenue or the reduction of future cost by technology development. These technology valuation methods are widely used in various fields (information technology or energy technology, etc). The main objective of this research is to develop valuation methodology that represents unique characteristics of nuclear power technology. The valuation methodology that incorporates market share changes of generation technologies was developed. The technology valuation model which consists of five modules (electricity demand forecast module, technology development module, market share module, electricity generation module, total cost module) to incorporate market share changes of generation technologies was developed. The nuclear power technology value assessed by this technology valuation model was 3 times more than the value assessed by the conventional method. So it was confirmed that it is very important to incorporates market share changes of generation technologies. The valuation results of nuclear power technology in this study can be used as policy data for ensuring the benefits of nuclear power R&D (Research and Development) investment.

  • PDF

Comparison of Perception Differences About Nuclear Energy in 4 East Asian Country Students: Aiming at $10^{th}$ Grade Students who Participated in Scientific Camps, from Four East Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore (동아시아 4개국 학생들의 핵에너지에 대한 인식 비교: 과학캠프에 참가한 한국, 일본, 대만, 싱가포르 10학년 학생들을 대상으로)

  • Lee, Hyeong-Jae;Park, Sang-Tae
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
    • /
    • v.32 no.4
    • /
    • pp.775-788
    • /
    • 2012
  • This study was done at a scientific camp sponsored by Nara Women's University Secondary School, Japan. In this school, $10^{th}$ grade students from 4 East Asian countries: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore, participated. We made a research on students' perceptions about nuclear energy. Sample populations include 77 students in total, with 12 Korean, 46 Japanese, 9 Taiwanese and 10 Singaporean students. Overall perceptions comparison about nuclear energy shows average values from the order of highest Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and to lowest, Japan. We implemented a T-test to identify perception differences about nuclear energy, with one group that include 3 countries (Korea, Taiwan and Singapore) and another group that includes all the Japanese students. T-test results of perceptions about nuclear energy shows students from the 3 countries of Korea, Taiwan and Singapore having higher average than Japanese students. (p<.05). Korean average scores regarding overall perceptions about nuclear energy show as the highest in all 4 East Asian countries and also highest in all subcategories. On the contrary in Japan, they have lower and negative perceptions of nuclear energy. In spite of these facts, perceptions of Japanese students about nuclear energy seem lowest and negative mainly because of the recent Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, caused by the tsunami and its subsequent damages and fears of radiation leaks, etc. This shows that negative information about future disasters and its resulting damages like the Chernobyl nuclear accident could influence more on people's risk perception than general information like nuclear energy-related technologies or the news that the plant is operating normally, etc. Even if the possibility of this kind of accident is very low, just one accident could bring abnormal risks to technology itself. This strong signal makes negative image and strengthens its perceptions to the people. This could bring a stigma about nuclear energy. This study shows that Government's policy about the highest priority for nuclear energy safety is most important. As long as such perception and decision are fixed, we found that it might not be easy to get changed again because they were already fortified and maintained.

Development of System Dynamics model for Electric Power Plant Construction in a Competitive Market (경쟁체제 하에서의 발전소 건설 시스템 다이내믹스 모델 개발)

  • 안남성
    • Korean System Dynamics Review
    • /
    • v.2 no.2
    • /
    • pp.25-40
    • /
    • 2001
  • This paper describes the forecast of power plant construction in a competitive korean electricity market. In Korea, KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation, fully controlled by government) was responsible for from the production of the electricity to the sale of electricity to customer. However, the generation part is separated from KEPCO and six generation companies were established for whole sale competition from April 1st, 2001. The generation companies consist of five fossil power companies and one nuclear power company in Korea at present time. Fossil power companies are scheduled to be sold to private companies including foreign investors. Nuclear power company is owned and controlled by government. The competition in generation market will start from 2003. ISO (Independence System Operator will purchase the electricity from the power exchange market. The market price is determined by the SMP(System Marginal Price) which is decided by the balance between demand and supply of electricity in power exchange market. Under this uncertain circumstance, the energy policy planners such as government are interested to the construction of the power plant in the future. These interests are accelerated due to the recent shortage of electricity supply in California. In the competitive market, investors are no longer interested in the investment for the capital intensive, long lead time generating technologies such as nuclear and coal plants. Large unclear and coal plants were no longer the top choices. Instead, investors in the competitive market are interested in smaller, more efficient, cheaper, cleaner technologies such as CCGT(Combined Cycle Gas Turbine). Electricity is treated as commodity in the competitive market. The investors behavior in the commodity market shows that the new investment decision is made when the market price exceeds the sum of capital cost and variable cost of the new facility and the existing facility utilization depends on the marginal cost of the facility. This investors behavior can be applied to the new investments for the power plant. Under these postulations, there is the potential for power plant construction to appear in waves causing alternating periods of over and under supply of electricity like commodity production or real estate production. A computer model was developed to sturdy the possibility that construction will appear in waves of boom and bust in Korean electricity market. This model was constructed using System Dynamics method pioneered by Forrester(MIT, 1961) and explained in recent text by Sternman (Business Dynamics, MIT, 2000) and the recent work by Andrew Ford(Energy Policy, 1999). This model was designed based on the Energy Policy results(Ford, 1999) with parameters for loads and resources in Korea. This Korea Market Model was developed and tested in a small scale project to demonstrate the usefulness of the System Dynamics approach. Korea electricity market is isolated and not allowed to import electricity from outsides. In this model, the base load such as unclear and large coal power plant are assumed to be user specified investment and only CCGT is selected for new investment by investors in the market. This model may be used to learn if government investment in new unclear plants could compensate for the unstable actions of private developers. This model can be used to test the policy focused on the role of unclear investments over time. This model also can be used to test whether the future power plant construction can meet the government targets for the mix of generating resources and to test whether to maintain stable price in the spot market.

  • PDF

Assessing Alternative Renewable Energy Policies in Korea's Electricity Market

  • KIM, HYUNSEOK
    • KDI Journal of Economic Policy
    • /
    • v.41 no.4
    • /
    • pp.67-99
    • /
    • 2019
  • This paper, focusing on the renewable portfolio standard (RPS), evaluates alternative renewable energy policies. We propose a tractable equilibrium model which provides a structural representation of Korea's electricity market, including its energy settlement system and renewable energy certificate (REC) transactions. Arbitrage conditions are used to define the core value of REC prices to identify relevant competitive equilibrium conditions. The model considers R&D investments and learning effects that may affect the development of renewable energy technologies. The model is parameterized to represent the baseline scenario under the currently scheduled RPS reinforcement for a 20% share of renewable generation, and then simulated for alternative scenarios. The result shows that the reinforcement of the RPS leads to higher welfare compared to weakening it as well as repealing it, though there remains room to enhance welfare. It turns out that subsidies are welfare-inferior to the RPS due to financial burdens and that reducing nuclear power generation from the baseline yields lower welfare by worsening environmental externalities.

A Study on the Power Generation Compared to the Capacity of Power Generation Facilities by Energy Sources in Summer Season (하절기의 에너지원별 발전설비용량 대비 발전량에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Chung Kyun
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
    • /
    • v.23 no.1
    • /
    • pp.36-40
    • /
    • 2019
  • In this study, we compared the operational rates of natural gas, coal, nuclear power and renewable energy based on the data of power generation and power generation facilities produced in summer season(from June to August) during the last four years(2015~2018). Nuclear power and coal power, which are responsible for basic power generation, were guaranteed to be economical as the actual generation capacity remained 60% higher than the cost of power generation. On the other hand, natural gas generation and new renewable energy generation have a very low actual operation rate of 29.5% and 27.3% compared to investments in power generation facilities, making it difficult to lower the cost of power generation. However, coal generation has structural problems in terms of greenhouse gas, fine dust. On the other hand, natural gas generation is relatively low and even though it is safe, it is difficult to secure economic feasibility as it is bound by a peak power system. Therefore, it is only possible to achieve balanced development of energy sources when there is a change in the development policy.

Simulation of Interim Spent Fuel Storage System with Discrete Event Model (이산 모형을 이용한 사용후 핵연료 중간 저장 시설의 전산기 모사)

  • Yoon, Wan-Ki;Song, Ki-Chan;Lee, Jae-Sol;Park, Hyun-Soo
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.21 no.3
    • /
    • pp.223-230
    • /
    • 1989
  • This paper describes dynamic simulation of the spent fuel storage system which is described by statistical discrete event models. It visualizes flow and queue of system over time, assesses the operational performance of the system acitivies and establishes the system components and streams. It gives information on system organization and operation policy with reference to the design. System was tested and analyzed over a number of critical parameters to establish the optimal system. Workforce schedule and resources with long processing time dominate process. A combination of two workforce shifts a day and two cooling pits gives the optimal solution of storage system. Discrete system simulation is an useful tool to get information on optimal design and operation of the storage system.

  • PDF

An Establishment of Commercial Grade Item Dedication Implementing System for Operating NPPs in Korea (가동중원전의 일반규격품 품질검증 이행 체계 구축 방안)

  • Yeom, Dong Un;Chang, Hee Seung;Song, Tae Young
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
    • /
    • v.23 no.2
    • /
    • pp.183-190
    • /
    • 2014
  • A Commercial Grade Item Dedication(CGID) for Korean operating nuclear power plants has been implemented since 2012. The CGID implementation and strategies for Korea are established as follows: CGID policy establishment, R&D of a specific methodologies of CGID, enrollment of third party organizations for CGID work, CGID program establishment for enrolled suppliers, establishment of training courses for certification, and CGID process development for quality class Q and A. Consequently, it is expected that these activities are enable to enhance the reliability and the safety of components and/or parts in nuclear power plants.

Comparative Analysis of Scenarios for Reducing GHG Emissions in Korea by 2050 Using the Low Carbon Path Calculator (저탄소 경로 모형을 활용한 2050년 한국의 온실가스 감축 시나리오 비교 분석)

  • Park, Nyun-Bae;Yoo, Jung-Hwa;Jo, Mi-Hyun;Yun, Seong-Gwon;Jeon, Eui Chan
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
    • /
    • v.28 no.5
    • /
    • pp.556-570
    • /
    • 2012
  • The Low Carbon Path Calculator is an excel-based model to project greenhouse gas emissions from 2009 to 2050, which is based on the 2050 Pathways Calculator developed by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Scenarios are developed to reduce GHG emissions in Korea at 50% based on 2005 levels by 2050 using a Low Carbon Path Calculator. They were classified in four different cases, which are high renewable, high nuclear, high CCS and mixed option scenarios. The objectives of this study are to compare scenarios in terms of GHG emissions, final energy, primary energy and electricity generation and examine the usefulness of that model in terms of identifying pathways towards a low carbon emission society. This model will enhance the understanding of the pathways toward a low carbon society and the level of the climate change policy for policy makers, stakeholders, and the public. This study can be considered as a reference for developing strategies in reducing GHG emissions in the long term.

A Research on the Economic Feasibility of Korean Nuclear Power under the Condition of Social Acceptance after Fukushima Accident (후쿠시마원전사고 이후 원전 경제성과 안전성(사회적 수용성)의 최적점 연구)

  • Kim, Dong-Won
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
    • /
    • v.11 no.3
    • /
    • pp.207-212
    • /
    • 2013
  • Since the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in March 2011, critical views on the increase in operation of nuclear power plants including the safety and the economic feasibility thereof have been expanding across the world. In these circumstances, we are to find out solutions to the controversial questions on whether nuclear power plants are economically more feasible than other energy sources, while the safety thereof is fully maintained. Thereby, nuclear power plants will play a key role as a sustainable energy source in the future as well as at present. To measure the social safety level that Korean people are actually feeling after the Fukushima accident, a method of cost-benefit analysis called the Contingent Valuation Method(CVM) was used, whereby we wanted to estimate the amount of expenses the general public would be willing to pay for the safety based on their acceptance rather than the social safety. As a result of calculating the trade-off value of the economic feasibility versus the safety in nuclear power plants through the survey thereon, it caused the nuclear power generation cost to be increased by 4.75 won/kWh. Reflecting this on the current power generation cost of 39.11 won/kWh would increase the cost to 43.86 won/kWh. It is thought that this potential cost is still more competitive than the coal-fired power generation cost of 67 won/kWh. This result will be available as a basic data for the 2nd Energy Basic Plan to be drawn up this year, presenting policy implications at the same time.