• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.277-289
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• 2019

Herein, a case study discussing the effect of carbonaceous aerosol pollution, which is emitted during the charcoal kiln manufacturing processes or carbonization processes, on the atmospheric environment is presented . In South Korea, in situ analysis of different charcoal production plants specialized in the production of charcoal sauna indicate that the emitted organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) aerosols are significantly influenced by the nature of the biomass and technological processes, i.e., treatment or emissions abatement systems for the exhaust effluent gases. In detail, total carbon (TC), which is calculated as the sum of OC and EC emission factors, varied widely from a charcoal production site to another ranging from 21.8 to 35.8 gTC/kg-oak, where the mean value for the considered production sites was approximately 28 gTC/kg-oak (N = 7 and sum = 196.4). Results indicate that the emission factors from a modern charcoal production process in South Korea are quantitatively lower in comparison with the traditional kiln. This study aims to propose advanced wood processes for the production of charcoal from the viewpoint of environmental protection policy and green engineering.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.21-29
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• 2012

The extensible supply of New & Renewable energy resources desperately needs to counter the high dependence on imported energy, recent high oil prices and the Climate Change Conference, and the government has operated the 'Renewable Portfolio Standard' (RPS) as one of the renewable energy policy from 2012. By analyzing the operation case of combined heat and power plant using the woodchip biomass, we drew the price of wood chip fuel, plant capacity factor, electricity selling price, heat selling price and LCOE value. After analyzing the economic feasibility of 3MWe combined heat and power plant based on the operating performance, the minimum of economic feasibility has appeared to be secured according to the internal rate of return (IRR) is 6.34% and the net present value (NPV) is 3.6 billion won as of 20 years life time after installation, and after analyzing the cases of the economic feasibility of the price of wood chip, plant capacity factor, electricity and heat selling price are changed, the economic feasibility is valuable when the price of wood chip is over 64,000 won/ton, NPV is minus, and the capacity factor is above 46.9%, the electricity selling price is 116 won/kWh and the heat selling price is above 75,600 won/Gcal. When going over the new installation hereafter, we need the detailed review of the woodchip storage and woodchip feeding system rather than the steam-turbine and boiler which have been inspected many times, the reason why is it's hard to secure the suitable quality (constant size) of woodchip by the lack of understanding about it as a fuel because of the domestic poor condition and the calorific value of woodchip is seriously volatile compared with other fuels.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.89-99
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• 2019

The project to utilize kenaf as thermal power plant fuel has a positive effect on the unused energy utilization, greenhouse gas reduction, and farm income. However, it is analyzed that it is difficult to secure economical efficiency because the fuel cost of kenaf is higher than that of power by thermal power plant and Renewable Energy Certification (REC). The project of power generation using kenaf is meet the government's major policies, while government support is essential for securing economical efficiency. As a result of the sensitivity analysis on the ratio of the government subsidies, to secure economical efficiency, the power generation prices using kenaf through the direct financial support of the government indicate that 47% and 76% of kenaf fuel cost are supported by government in case of the Saemangeum reclamation and Gangneung-si, respectively. In the case of the government indirect policy support, if kenaf is included as a renewable energy source of Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and REC is granted, the economic efficiency of Saemangeum reclamation and Gangneung-si is obtained when REC secured at 1.05 or more and 2.43 or more, respectively. The results of this study are meaningful in that the direct and indirect effects of the government on the development of the herbaceous energy crop, kenaf, were evaluated economically. These results are to suggest the need for demonstration study, but economics analyze and evaluate are necessary based on operational data through the demonstration phase in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-69
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• 2004

Bioenergy can be obtained from various forms of biomass such as agricultural, food processing, and municipal wastes. Recently, its importance is recognized more seriously because of its positive impacts on economic and stable energy supply and environmental sustainability. Despite its advantages, bioenergy has not been used as much as it was expected, nor has it been developed to the level of attractive commercialization in energy market. The main reasons for the sluggish progress have been analyzed by comparing the bioenergy policies in Korea and U.S.A. Both Korea and U.S. governments have recognized the importance of bioenergy and put in various efforts to promote the use of bioenergy. Both governments have legislated alternative energy promotion plans that support R&D, tax reduction, rewards, and low interest loans. However, it is suggested that the bioenergy policy and plan juxtapose the financial supports (R&D, tax exemption, low interest loan, education, etc.) with strong mandates and obligations. Although imposing strong mandates prerequisites the economically attractive and feasible technologies, it can motivate and speed up more effective technology development, in turn. In addition, the bioenergy R&D support must include studies on commercialization and marketing as well as process development. R&D on the socioeconomic effects of bioenergy should also be supported. Lastly, decision making processes for the bioenergy policy, and for alternative energy overall, must include environmental agencies for taking advantage of environmental benefits of bioenergy.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.257-267
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• 2023

The grassland section of the greenhouse gas inventory has limitations due to a lack of review and verification of biomass compared to organic carbon in soil while grassland is considered one of the carbon storages in terrestrial ecosystems. Considering the situation at internal and external where the calculation of greenhouse gas inventory is being upgraded to a method with higher scientific accuracy, research on standards and methods for calculating carbon accumulation of grassland biomass is required. The purpose of this study was to identify international trends in the calculation method of the grassland biomass sector that meets the Tier 2 method and to conduct a review of variables applicable to the Republic of Korea. Identify the estimation methods and access levels for grassland biomass through the National Inventory Report in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and type the main implications derived from overseas cases. And, a field survey was conducted on 28 grasslands in the Republic of Korea to analyse the applicability of major issues. Four major international issues regarding grassland biomass were identified. 1) country-specific coefficients by land use; 2) calculations on woody plants; 3) loss and recovery due to wildfire; 4) amount of change by human activities. As a result of field surveys and analysis of activity data available domestically, it was found that there was a significant difference in the amount of carbon in biomass according to use type classification and climate zone-soil type classification. Therefore, in order to create an inventory of grassland biomass at the Tier 2 level, a policy and institutional system for making activity data should develop country-specific coefficients for climate zones and soil types.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.251-265
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• 2004

The agricultural sector's economic structure in Korea is regarded to encounter major barriers on the way toward revitalizing its economic prosperity. Among many, the energy-related problem is one of prime nuclei embedded in the country's agricultural sector. The ought-to-come structural changes in the country's agricultural energy system hinge upon the central government's policy direction as well as efforts of local governments and local farming community members. The indirect aids via 'cross subsidy' of electricity tariff rate and 'tax-exempt price' of oil fuels are two notable causes of the unsustainable energy consumption pattern in the country's agricultural sector. As measures, demand-side management(DSM) and energy-efficiency promotions are regarded to be the most attractive methods for energy conservation and economic productivity as well. Development of renewable energy sources are also receiving a great deal of attention for the long-term alternatives to the country's existing oil-based agricultural production mode. This study examines the contributive potential of DSM approaches and renewables-based technologies. With the critical evaluation on the concurrent adversities of the country's agricultural energy system, various sources of renewable energy-solar power, wind power, biomass, etc.-are examined for the purpose of technological and economical viability. As sufficient potentials of renewable energy sources are being estimated, both the system production cost and the installation cost for the county's rural areas are expected to lower in the long term. DSM options are also evaluated to be fruitful even in the short term. Both the public and civil arenas must galvanise each side's effort in order to promote these policy options and community potentials.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2013

Several soil properties were studied from three young created mitigation wetlands (<10 years old), which were hydrologically comparable in the Piedmont region of Virginia. The properties included soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, gravimetric soil moisture, and bulk density ($D_b$). No significant differences were found in the soil properties between the wetlands, except SOM and SOC. SOM and SOC indicated a slight increase with wetland age; the increase was more evident with SOC. Only about a half of SOC variability found in the wetlands was explained by SOM ($R^2$ = 0.499, p < 0.05). The majority of the ratios of SOM to SOC for these silt-loam soils ranged from 2.0 to 3.5, which was higher than the 1.724 Van Bemmelen factor, commonly applied for the conversion of SOM into SOC in estimating the carbon storage or accumulation capacity of wetlands. The results may caution the use of the conversion factor, which may lead to an overestimation of carbon sequestration potentials of newly created wetlands. SOC, but not SOM, was also correlated to $D_b$, which indicates soil compaction typical of most created wetlands that might limit vegetation growth and biomass production, eventually affecting carbon accumulation in the created wetlands.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.53-67
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• 1992

It has been recognized, virtually from the time of its inception, that fisheries economics, like other aspects of resource economics, should ideally be cast in capital-theoretic terms. The fish population or biomass can be viewed as a capital stock in that, like conventional or man-made capital, it is capable of yielding a sustainable consumption flow through time. This study is to introduce the optimal control theory which was extended from the theory of calculus of variations into the study of former static theory of fisheries economics started by Gordon (1954). The optimal control theory eliminated the inadequacies of the classical techniques to a large extent. From this point of view, this study, on the base of Schaefer model, summerizes most of major results achieved so far, but does so in a manner such that the links with capital theory are made transparent. This study explores two sets of problems. The first concerns the optimal approach to the equilibrium stock, i.e. the optimal investment policy. The second set of problems arises from the relaxation of the highly restrictive assumption of autonomy (i.e. the assumption that the parameters are independent of time), then concludes the relaxation of linearity assumption together with the complexities caused by that.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.333-345
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• 2011

Aquatic macrophytes, often also called hydrophytes, are key components of aquatic and wetland ecosystems. This review is to briefly summarizes various macrophyte classifications, and covers numerous aspects of macrophytes' role in wetland ecosystems, namely in nutrient cycling. The most widely accepted macrophyte classification differentiates between freely floating macrophytes and those attached to the substrate, with the attached, or rooted macrophytes further divided into three categories: floating-leaved, submerged and emergent. Biogeochemical processes in the water column and sediments are to a large extent influenced by the type of macrophytes. Macrophytes vary in their biomass production, capability to recycle nutrients, and impacts on the rhizosphere by release of oxygen and organic carbon, as well as their capability to serve as a conduit for methane. With increasing eutrophication, the species diversity of wetland macrophytes generally declines, and the speciose communities are being replaced by monoculture-forming strong competitors. A similar situation often happens with invasive species. The roles of macrophytes and sediment microorganisms in wetland ecosystems are closely connected and should be studied simultaneously rather than in isolation.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2008

Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture(YKAP) possesses the potential to become the first testing ground for the North-East Asian Energy Cooperation in renewable energy sector. We found that production of biodiesel from rapeseed and CHP (Combined Heat and Power Plant) project utilizing abundant forest resources are the two main bioenergy development projects which may have further development potential considering the resource endowments and the focus of Chinese governments' current rural development policy. Provision of stable and transparent investment environments and the development of a close cooperation mechanism between Korea and China government are the prerequisite conditions for investments in the sector. Other international institutional agreements, such as CDM, shall be fully utilized for biomass CHP projects.