"Green Korea" Plan For 2030
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 08.28.08
South Korea will spend US$103 billion through 2030 in developing new renewable energy, to cut its reliance on fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The new plan, announced on Wednesday, is part of a long-term energy strategy and will come on top of other energy policies and overseas resource development plans. Capacity for solar, wind, bio and geothermal power generation will be expanded.
South Korea wants to lower the portion of fossil energy to 61 percent by 2030 from the current 83 percent, while bumping up the portion of new renewable energy to 11 percent, according to Reuters.
The new focus on renewable energy means the South Korean government will increase the proportion of solar energy 44-fold, wind power 37-fold, bioenergy 19-fold, and geothermal energy 51-fold.
In the sectors of wind power, tidal energy and bioenergy, South Korea plans to make it mandatory for energy providers to use a baseline percentage of new and renewable energies starting 2012.
(Image of the new Seoul City Hall to be constructed from Naver.com)
Looking more closely at the plans, it is evident that nuclear power is part of the mix (something Reuters does not mention). JoongAng Daily notes that the country proposes 10 new nuclear reactors by 2030, which will cost $102.8 billion:
Currently, there are 20 nuclear reactors in operation in Korea, but the government said that it will increase their capacity to equal the two 1.4 million kilowatt capacity Shingori Nuclear Power Plants being built in Ulsan. The two plants are scheduled to be in operation by 2013, at the earliest.
The government wants to build 10 new 1.4 million-kw-class nuclear power plants by 2030, to increase the percentage of nuclear power generation nationwide from 36 to 59 percent. Anti-nuclear groups like Green Korea have their work cut out for them.
Written by Martin Frid at greenz.jp
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Well that's great and all, but a portion of 61% of fossil fuel-usage by 2030 actually doesn't seem all that innovative. Still, those numbers are better than what ‘my’ government is doing here in the Netherlands. But I'd like to see countries willing to make some real big efforts, like 10% of fossil fuel-usage by 2020. I think if you're willing, you're able with all the technologies that we already have, and all the new and improved ones that are still to come.
Besides that, wouldn't it feel great to live in a country that is pretty much energy self-sustainable? I'm sure it would make a lot of things better, including world politics.
As someone who lives in South Korea, I'm excited to see where they're going to go with this. On top of that, I live at the top science and technology university in Korea, so surely our students will be part of the innovation over the next 20 years.
Korea has started with some interesting changes. For example, all government employees with a car are only allowed to drive their cars to week every other day. (If their license plate ends in an even number they can drive on even numbered days and vice versa). If they are a mother with young children or have a car with an engine smaller than 1000cc they are exempt. This has to do with both oil dependence and air pollution. (people are supposed to take the bus, which is a pretty good system here).
They are also starting a tax break system and even paying citizens to ride their bikes or take the bus instead of driving their car.
I live in New Zealand. We already generate 70% of our power from renewable sources. The Govt target is 100% by 2020.