Nuclear Power for Green Future

CEO unveils KHNP's goals and vision

Low-carbon, green growth is Korea's new national vision for a post-oil era, and nuclear power becomes an alternative solution amid the economic crisis, the environmental crisis - climate change- and the energy crisis - exhaustion of natural resources, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) President & CEO Kim Jong-shin said.
KHNP President Kim made the remark while delivering a paper titled "Nuclear Power for a Green Future" at the plenary session of a ceremony to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Korea Nuclear Society held at Haevichi Hotel on Jeju on May 21. About 1,200 people in the nuclear power industry from Korea and abroad, including Dr. Park Chan-mo, the special adviser to the president for science and technology, attended the anniversary event.
"Now is the right time to invest in green growth amid the so-called crisis of the 3Es ― economic crisis, environmental crisis and energy crisis," he said. Korea depends on foreign imports for 97 percent of its energy supply, and the nation is the ninth largest CO2 emitter in the world with the highest GHG increase rate of 2.8 percent.
Low-carbon, green growth is mapped out as Korea's new national vision for a post-oil era in order to ensure the 3Es ― energy security, economic efficiency and environmental protection ― by improving energy efficiency and reducing its consumption; increasing clean energy and reducing fossil fuels; boosting the green energy industry; and ensuring citizens'access to affordable energy.
The global nuclear power industry suffered a setback as many nations stopped the construction of new nuclear power plants following the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and the Chernobyl accident in 1986.




















However, the energy paradigm has been shifting due to the depletion of fossil fuels and concerns over climate change. Figures released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) showed that nuclear power is an energy source that emits 10 grams of CO2 emissions per kilowatt-hour (g/kWh), the lowest level, followed by solar energy (57 g/kWh), liquefied natural gas (549 g/kWh), oil (782 g/kWh) and coal (991 g/kWh). "If there is no nuclear power, the world's total CO2 emissions would increase by 10 percent," he said. Now the global nuclear power industry enters the renaissance of nuclear power as more and more countries resume the construction of nuclear power plants.
The IAEA said in its 2008 edition that globally, nuclear power is predicted to surge from 372 gigawatts (GW) to 748 GW in 2030, slightly more than double.
Korea ranks sixth in the world with 20 units with a combined capacity of 17,716MW in operation. Eight more units with a combined capacity of 6,800MW are under construction or planned for completion by 2016. An additional 10 units will be constructed by 2030.
































The Korean nuclear power industry has a competitive edge as Korea showed the highest capacity factor of 93.4 percent in 2008, followed by the United States (89.9 percent), France (76.1 percent), Russia (73.1 percent), Canada (66.7 percent) and Japan (59.2 percent), according to data released by Nucleonics Week in March 2009. The IAEA reported that in 2008, Korea saw unplanned capability loss standing at 0.36, the lowest, trailed by Russia (1.40), the United States (3.01), Japan (3.77) and France (9.16).
Nuclear energy is the most cost-competitive energy in Korea as nuclear power sales prices to KEPCO were the lowest at 39.0 won per KWH, followed by coal (53.7 won/KWH), wind (107.3 won/KWH), hydro power (130.7 won/KWH), LNG (143.6 won/KWH), oil (195.0 won/KWH) and PV (647.0 won/KWH) as of the end of 2008.
The KHNP president said his company has set goals designed to contribute to energy security, environmental protection, natural economy and human welfare ― contributing to the national economy through providing a stable and affordable energy supply; contributing to national green growth; improving the competitiveness of nuclear power; promoting the export of nuclear plants; and strengthening international cooperation.
In order to realize its vision of a "Global Green Future," he said, the KHNP will strive to ensure the safety of operating nuclear power plants, include nuclear power in CDM projects and provide assistance to newcomers wishing to acquire infrastructure. nw

(above) Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) President & CEO Kim Jong-shin gives a speech at a session of a ceremony to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Korea Nuclear Society held at Haevichi Hotel on Jeju on May 21.Experts in the nuclear power industry have active discussions at the session.