OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems

92
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Keyyong Hong
Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute
INTRODUCTION
The budget and number of projects for ocean energy RD&D (Research, Development and Demonstration)
continued to grow in Korea in 2012. They are mainly funded by Government programmes led by MLTM
(Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs) and MKE (Ministry of Knowledge) but the involvement
from private sectors has also increased particularly in the tidal current device development. The renewable
energy policy of RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard), which applies a different REC (Renewable Energy
Certificate) value to each renewable energy source, has been enacted in Korea since 2012. The Sihwa tidal
barrage and Uldolmok tidal current power plants are being operated continuously though more ocean
energy plants were installed and tested in Korean coastal waters in 2012. The Sihwa power plant is still in
controlled operation and has produced 396,210 MWh from 1 August 2011 to 30 September 2012. About
553,000 MWh annual production is expected as it begins full operation.
OCEAN ENERGY POLICY
Strategy and National Targets
The strategic plan for ocean energy development in Korea is based on “The 3rd National Plan for Technology
Development, Use and Diffusion of New and Renewable Energy”, in which the national vision, long-term
goal, strategy and action plan for new and renewable energy development for the period of 2009~2030
have been established. It has also proposed an establishment of laws and regulations for the efficient
enforcement of the strategic plan. The action plan for ocean energy development is divided into 3 phases.
In the first phase, until 2012, ocean energy RD&D is mainly funded by the Government and it focuses on
the development of core technologies that are suitable to coastal area. In the second phase, from 2013
to 2020, the role of industries will gradually increase in both funding and RD&D and the technologies that
are applicable in open sea will be exploited. In the third phase, from 2021 to 2030, the industries will lead
commercial development for ocean energy resources and the hybrid utilisation of technologies combining
multiple ocean energy resources will be activated.
Korea targets to supply 11% of national energy demand from new and renewable energy by 2030, and the ocean
energy contributes with 4.7% to the total new and renewable energy supply, which amounts to 1,540kTOE.
Support Initiatives and Market Stimulation Incentives
The RPS policy as a primary promotion tool for renewable energy including ocean energy was enforced
on 13 utility companies with a total capacity larger than 500MW in 2012, replacing the Feed-In Tariff (FIT)
policy initiated in 2002. It requires the companies to supply 2% of total electricity production by renewable
energy in 2012 and to increase its portion to 10% in 2022. The policy applies a Renewable Energy Certificate
(REC) value, which varies depending on the resource type and conditions, such as distance from coastline,
capacity and installation method. The REC of tidal barrage with embankment is 1.0 while the one without
embankment is 2.0. The REC has not been determined for other ocean energies.
Main Public Funding Mechanisms
The public funding for renewable ocean energy is led by the two Government ministries of MLTM and
MKE Economy which operate the national RD&D programme for ocean energy. MLTM supports mainly
demonstration projects under the “Practical Ocean Energy Technology Development Programme”. MKE
funds mostly fundamental R&D projects under “New and Renewable Technology Development Programme”.
ANNUAL
REPORT 2012