Home

The Korea Herald

Latest news

Most Popular

  1. 1

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
  2. 2

    S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership

    S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership
  3. 3

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
  4. 4

    Bae Doo-na shares portraying Korean identity in Hollywood's 'Rebel Moon'

    Bae Doo-na shares portraying Korean identity in Hollywood's 'Rebel Moon'
  5. 5

    [From the Scene] Monks, Buddhists hail return of remains of Buddhas

    [From the Scene] Monks, Buddhists hail return of remains of Buddhas
  1. 6

    Medical schools granted enrollment quota flexibility for next year

    Medical schools granted enrollment quota flexibility for next year
  2. 7

    Yoon offers first one-on-one meeting with opposition leader next week

    Yoon offers first one-on-one meeting with opposition leader next week
  3. 8

    France rejects opening Paris flight routes to T'way Air, deals blow to Korean Air merger

    France rejects opening Paris flight routes to T'way Air, deals blow to Korean Air merger
  4. 9

    Iran fires air defense batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan

    Iran fires air defense batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan
  5. 10

    Chinese man behind drug scam targeting teens nabbed in Cambodia

    Chinese man behind drug scam targeting teens nabbed in Cambodia
피터빈트

South Korea’s regenerated power use marks record high in 2017

By Kim Bo-gyung

Published : July 16, 2018 - 16:56

    • Link copied

The trade amount of electricity from renewable sources in South Korea hit an all-time high of 2.4 trillion won ($2.13 billion) last year, backed by President Moon Jae-in’s plan to expand renewable energy, industry data showed Monday.

Regenerated power traded in 2017 jumped 20.1 percent on-year to 2.4 trillion won from 1.7 trillion won in 2016, according to data from the state-run Korea Power Exchange.

Last year’s figure is over 40 times the 50.4 billion won seen in 2011.

Out of the total 44.7 trillion won in electricity traded at the Korea Power Exchange, renewable source-based electricity accounted for 4.6 percent, data showed.

The Moon administration aims to increase the portion of clean energy to 20 percent of total energy produced here by 2030.

Korea Southern Power Co.'s wind turbines in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. (Yonhap) Korea Southern Power Co.'s wind turbines in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. (Yonhap)

In terms of renewable energy type, that made from waste and by-product gas accounted for 47 percent. By-product gas is emitted while producing steel products.

Hydro energy followed at 12.7 percent, solar energy 10.1 percent, wind energy 9.6 percent and bio energy 9.2 percent.

Based on standards adopted by the International Energy Association, the Korean government is reviewing whether to exclude waste product-based power from its list of renewable sources.

“The IEA does not recognize energy produced from waste that is not renewable in nature as regenerated electricity. Moving in that direction, the Korean government is also reviewing whether to adopt stricter measures,” said the spokesperson of the Korea Energy Economics Institute.

Meanwhile, eyeing for a stake in the rising business, the number of artificial intelligence-related renewable energy patents came in at 47 in 2017 compared to 11-17 yearly in 2010-2012, according to the Korean Intelligence Property Office.

Samsung Electronics was the No. 1 patent holder with 20 patents, followed by the state-run Korean Electric Power Corporation with 15 patents.

AI is expected to improve demand forecast by controlling the volume of fossil energy generation and enabling more efficient energy transfer, according to KIPO. 

Kim Bo-gyung (lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)

More from Headlines