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Global Electricity Review 2021 South Korea

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Global Electricity

Review 2021
G20 Profile

SOUTH KOREA
More of South Korea’s electricity was generated
from fossil fuels in 2020 than in 2015

March 2021
Authors Aditya Lolla and Euan Graham

Peer Reviewers Joojin Kim and Gahee Han,


Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC)

Published date March 2021

About Ember’s This annual report analyses electricity data from every country in
Global Electricity the world to give the first accurate view of the global electricity
Review transition in 2020. It aggregates generation data by fuel by country
from 2000. 68 countries comprising 90% of world electricity
generation have full-year data to 2020 and have formed the
basis of an estimate for changes in worldwide generation. All
remaining countries have full data as far as 2019. G20 countries,
which comprise 84% of world electricity generation, each have a
separate in-depth country analysis. All the data can be viewed and
downloaded freely from Ember’s website.

www.ember-climate.org/global-electricity-review-2021

Disclaimer The information in this report is complete and correct to the best of
our knowledge, but if you spot an error, please email
info@ember-climate.org

Creative This report is published under a Creative Commons ShareAlike


Commons Attribution Licence (CC BY-SA 4.0). You are actively encouraged
to share and adapt the report, but you must credit the authors and
title, and you must share any material you create under the same
licence.

Document design & layout by Designers For Climate


Contents

Key findings 1

South Korea’s electricity transition in the spotlight: 2015-2020 2

What happened in 2020? 4

South Korea’s transition in comparison with G20 countries 5

South Korea has one of the lowest combined wind and solar power share in the G20 5

Is South Korea going coal-to-clean, or coal-to-gas? 6

South Korea has one of most coal-intensive electricity sectors among the G20 countries 7

South Korea’s per-capita electricity demand has risen even above Australia’s 8

South Korea’s coal generation is reducing much slower than many G20 countries 9

Concluding remarks 10
SOUTH KOREA
More of South Korea’s electricity was generated from
fossil fuels in 2020 than in 2015

South Korea’s electricity transition is lagging behind the rest of the world

“Despite its 2050 carbon neutrality announcement, S. Korea is falling woefully behind
the G20 on energy transition away from fossil fuels. The Korean government should
announce a coal phase-out year and cancel new coal and combined gas power plant
projects. To duly do its part under the Paris Agreement, Korea must phase out coal
power by 2029 and unabated combined gas power by 2050. Bold and diligent transition
to renewable energy is imperative.”

“한국은 최근 2050 탄소중립 선언을 했지만, 에너지전환 속도는 주요 20개국


(G20)에 비해 매우 느리다. 파리협정 온도 상승 목표를 준수하기 위해 한국은
석탄화력발전소를 2029년까지, 탄소저감장치를 갖추지 못한 가스복합발전소를
2050년까지 퇴출해야 한다. 정부는 하루빨리 석탄화력발전소 퇴출 연도를 발표하고
석탄화력발전소와 가스복합발전소의 신규 건설을 중단해야 한다. 재생에너지로의
빠르고 대담한 전환이 절실한 때다.”

Gahee Han
Policy Analyst, Solutions for Our Climate

“South Korea needs to rapidly change its electricity mix to meet its 2050 net-zero
target. The country’s clean electricity transition remains in preliminary stages as wind
and solar made up only 3.8% of the country’s electricity in 2020, one of the lowest in
the G20. Unless it ramps up its wind and solar generations significantly, South Korea
will continue to face a gas risk that will make it challenging to decarbonize its power
sector quick enough to meet the net-zero target.”

Aditya Lolla
Senior Electricity Policy Analyst, Ember
Keyfindings
Key Findings

1 2 3
More of South Korea’s Slow wind and solar Coal power fell by 13%
electricity was growth means South year-on-year in 2020
generated from fossil Korea’s clean due to a fall in
fuels in 2020 than in electricity transition electricity demand and
2015 fell behind most G20 winter restrictions on
countries coal plants to curb air
pollution

Fossil generation rose slightly Wind and solar generated This 2020 fall in coal
by 1% from 350 TWh in 2015 3.8% of the country’s generation was covered by
to 353 TWh in 2020, supplying electricity in 2020, up from 1% nuclear generation increasing
66% of South Korea’s in 2015, driven by an increase by 10%, and oil and gas
electricity in 2020. A rise in in solar generation. This is well generation rising by 4%.
solar generation in the last five below the global average, Between 2015 and 2020,
years was only enough to which was a tenth of electricity however, coal generation fell
meet the small increase in (9.4%) in 2020. Share of wind by only 10%, putting South
electricity demand. Share of and solar power in other Asian Korea far behind other G20
coal generation fell from 41% G20 countries was closer to countries such as the UK
to 36% which resulted in gas the global average: Japan (-93%), the EU-27 (-48%) and
generation rising from 22% to (10%), China (9.5%) and India even Japan (-15%), who
27%. Overall, generation from (8.9%). reduced their coal generation
all the other non-fossil sources much faster.
combined was unchanged.

Progress to 100% clean electricity


Percentage of all renewables & nuclear in total generation

SOUTH KOREA 33% 34%


in 2015 in 2020

WORLD 34% 39%


in 2015 in 2020
0% 100%

Progress on phasing out coal


Percentage of coal in total generation

SOUTH KOREA 41% 36%


in 2015 in 2020

WORLD 38% 34%


in 2015 in 2020
100% 0%

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 1


South Korea's electricity transition in the spotlight:
South Korea’s electricity transition in the spotlight: 2015-2020
2015-2020
Wind and solar step up, but behind on global average

Wind & solar in


electricity mix
Percentage of total
generation

Wind Solar

World average

World average 4% 9%

5% 1%
2015 2020

Coal market share falls, in part from Fossil generation higher than five
wind and solar, but also a rise in gas years ago

Electricity mix Electricity generation Total


Percentage of total generation Terawatt hours Electricity
Production
100%
+3%
Nuclear
-3%

30% 29% Nuclear Other


Renewables
Hydro + Bioenergy + Other

+42%
Hydro + Bioenergy + Wind + Solar
Other Renewables +295%
4% Wind + Solar

Coal
-10%

41% 36% Coal

Gas + Oil
Total +18%
Fossil
Fuels 2015 2020

66%
Change since 2015… Total
Electricit
Producti
Total +3 T
Electricity +17 TW
+15 TWh Production +15
30% Gas + Oil
26% +17 TWh
+25 TWh +25

-21 TWh -21

-4 T
2015 2020 2015 2020

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 2


More electricity was generated from Gas has risen more than coal has
fossil fuels in 2020 than in 2015. fallen in the last five years. Coal
The increased solar generation in 2020, generated 36% (192 TWh) of the country’s
compared to 2015 (+14 TWh) was only electricity in 2020, declining from 41%
enough to meet the rise in electricity (213 TWh) in 2015. This decline in coal’s
demand, which increased by 3% from share of generation only started from 2019,
519 TWh in 2015 to 536 TWh in 2020. possibly due to the government placing
Generation from all the other non-fossil restrictions on use of coal plants in winter
sources combined was unchanged. That months in an effort to curb air pollution.
meant fossil generation increased slightly However, muted growth in wind and solar
by 1% from 350 TWh in 2015 to 353 TWh meant South Korea’s gas generation
in 2020. With this, fossil fuels supplied increased from 22% (113 TWh) in 2015
66% of South Korea’s electricity in 2020. to 27% (142 TWh) in 2020 to replace coal
While South Korea committed to move its power. Moreover, the dynamics around
power sector away from coal, its transition the country’s nuclear generation seem to
to clean electricity remains in preliminary be evolving paradoxically in the last few
stages. years with the country pursuing a nuclear
phaseout but also seeing a year-on-year
South Korea has the second lowest rise in nuclear generation since 2019. This
share of renewable generation of all meant nuclear generated 29% (153 TWh) of
the G20 countries. Only 6% (30 TWh) South Korea’s electricity in 2020, marginally
of South Korea’s electricity came from down from 30% (157 TWh) in 2015. As a
renewables in 2020, up from 2% (12 TWh) result, total generation from non-renewable
in 2015. Only Saudi Arabia fared worse sources, in absolute terms, changed very
among the G20, with 100% of electricity little between 2015 and 2020 in South
powered by gas and oil generation in Korea.
2020. South Korea started adding new
solar capacity in recent years, because
of which the share of solar generation
increased from 1% (4 TWh) in 2015 to 3%
(18 TWh) 2020. This meant that more than
three-fourths of the country’s renewable
power growth between 2015 and 2020
came from solar. The wind sector remains
underdeveloped, generating just 1% (3
TWh) of the country’s electricity in 2020.
This may likely change in the next decade
with the country already starting to invest
in offshore wind and committing to build 12
GW off-shore wind capacity by 2030.

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 3


What happened in 2020?

Coal generation fell in 2020 as South replace about half the fall in coal power in
Korea’s electricity demand declined and 2020, which saw an increase of 10% (+14
nuclear generation increased. The country’s TWh). Meanwhile, the country’s combined
coal generation fell by 13% (-29TWh) in the gas and oil generation rose by 4% (+6 TWh),
last year, its biggest ever year-on-year fall making up for about one-fifth of the 2020
since at least 2000. This is mainly due to a coal generation fall. However, combined
weaker power demand caused by Covid-19 wind and solar generation grew only by
measures and the government’s winter 5 TWh last year as new capacity came
month restrictions on use of coal plants online. This helped reduce South Korea’s
to curb air pollution. Electricity demand bioenergy generation by 8 TWh, but led to
fell by 2% (-10 TWh) year-on-year, marking the country’s total renewable generation
a decline for a second consecutive year. falling marginally (-1 TWh) in 2020.
South Korea relied on nuclear power to

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 4


South Korea’s transition in comparison with G20 countries

South Korea has one of the lowest combined wind and solar power share in the G20

South Korea generated 3.8% of its solar from 3.8% (22 TWh) to 10.6% (64
electricity from wind and solar in 2020 (21 TWh) in the same time period. Slow growth
TWh), the fourth lowest among the G20 in South Korea’s wind and solar generation
countries. While this increased from 1% means that their share in the country’s mix
(5 TWh) in 2015, growth has been slow is now less than half the world average
compared to most other G20 countries (9.4%), even lagging behind other Asian
who are quickly transitioning their power G20 countries like Japan (10%), China
systems to wind and solar. Brazil, for (9.5%) and India (8.9%).
example, increased its combined wind and

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 5


Is South Korea going coal-to-clean, or coal-to-gas?

Relatively small growth in wind and solar less compared to other G20 countries like
power between 2015 and 2020 stifled the UK, Germany and the US where coal’s
the potential reduction of fossil fuel’s electricity market share reduced by more
electricity market share in South Korea. than 10%. Moreover, coal’s fall in market
Wind and solar captured only 3% of the share in South Korea was offset by oil and
market share during this period; fifteen gas (driven mainly by gas) taking 4% of the
other G20 countries did better on this market share.
metric. While coal did lose 5% of its market
share between 2015 and 2020, it is notably

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 6


South Korea has one of most coal-intensive electricity sectors among the G20 countries

South Korea had the sixth-most coal- increased since 2015, its total fossil fuel
intensive electricity sectors among the share of generation (66%) is also higher
G20 countries in 2020, generating 36% of than the global average (61%) and much
the country’s electricity from coal. This higher than in G20 countries like France
is higher than the global average of 34% (10%), Brazil (14%) and Canada (17%), who
and puts South Korea behind most G20 relied on fossil fuels to generate less than
countries, including Japan (29%) and the 20% of their electricity.
US (19%). As South Korea’s gas generation

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 7


South Korea’s per-capita electricity demand has risen even above Australia’s

Korea’s per-capita electricity demand increased by 11%, from 9.5 MWh in 2010 to 10.5
MWh in 2020. With this, it overtook Australia (9.9 MWh in 2020) to become the country
with the highest electricity demand, on a per-capita basis, of any G20 country in the Asia-
Pacific region. This is more than three times the global average of 3.3 MWh seen in 2020
and is only behind Canada (15.4 MWh) and the USA (12.4 MWh) in the G20.

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 8


South Korea’s coal generation is reducing much slower than many G20 countries

Although South Korea’s coal generation in 2020 was 10% less than in 2015, many other
G20 countries phased out coal much faster, including the UK (-93%), the EU-27 (-48%)
and the US (-43%). The country’s inability to quickly reduce its reliance on coal meant that
South Korea even lagged behind Japan which reduced its coal generation by 15% between
2015 and 2020.

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 9


Concluding remarks

South Korea’s pledge to achieve net-zero by 7.3 GW under construction. With reports
2050 is a welcome development. However, suggesting that South Korea must phase
there is a long way to go for the country out all its coal power plants by 2029 to
to achieve a transition to clean power. It meet its Paris Agreement obligations, the
had one of the lowest growths in wind country would do well to adapt its national
and solar between 2015 and 2020 among power plan to be consistent with its own
the G20 countries, which its total fossil net-zero ambitions. The target to achieve
generation did not reduce in the last five carbon neutrality by 2050 also faces a
years. Coal remains a significant challenge massive gas risk if South Korea continues
for South Korea as it still produces 36% of to use gas as a transition fuel. Instead, by
its electricity. Despite announcing plans placing a moratorium on new coal plants
to phase out coal, the government hasn’t and replacing coal generation with new
yet set a date to end coal power. Further, wind and solar power, South Korea can
data from Global Energy Monitor shows position itself well to achieve its net-zero
that 34.5 GW of grid-connected coal plants target.
are currently operational with a further

EMBER GLOBAL ELECTRICITY REVIEW 2021 - G20 PROFILE - SOUTH KOREA 10


More information about the Global Electricity Review 2021

Global Electricity www.ember-climate.org/global-electricity-review-2021


Review 2021

Main Report Global Trends English Español


中文

G20 Profiles Argentina English Español


Australia English
Brazil English Português
Canada English
China English 中文
European Union English
France English Français
Germany English Deutsch
India English
Indonesia English Bahasa Indonesia
Italy English Italiano
Japan English にほんご
Mexico English Español
Russia English русский
Saudi Arabia English ‫يبرع‬
South Africa English
South Korea English 한국어
Turkey English Türk
United Kingdom English
United States English

The information in this report is complete and correct to the best of


our knowledge, but if you spot an error, please email
info@ember-climate.org

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