Evaluation of Coal Repowering Option with Small Modular Reactor in South Korea
The Paris Agreement emphasizes the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from coal power. One suggested approach is repowering coal-fired power plants (CPPs) with small modular reactors (SMRs). South Korea plans to retire CPPs in the coming decades and requires alternative options fo...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/24/6493 |
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| author | Semin Joo Seok Ho Song Seokjun Oh Staffan Qvist Jeong Ik Lee |
| author_facet | Semin Joo Seok Ho Song Seokjun Oh Staffan Qvist Jeong Ik Lee |
| author_sort | Semin Joo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Paris Agreement emphasizes the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from coal power. One suggested approach is repowering coal-fired power plants (CPPs) with small modular reactors (SMRs). South Korea plans to retire CPPs in the coming decades and requires alternative options for coal-fired energy. This study presents a scoping analysis comparing variable renewable energy (VRE) sources with SMRs for repowering CPPs in the Korean context. The analysis indicates that SMRs may be a more favorable option than VRE sources, particularly due to their load-following capabilities. In this study, two types of SMRs were investigated: high-temperature gas reactors (HTGRs) and pressurized water reactors (PWRs). HTGRs are suitable to fit the high-temperature operating conditions of steam turbines but require multiple units due to their low volumetric flow rates. PWRs, while matching the volumetric flow rate of existing CPP turbines, require additional thermal energy sources to meet the high-temperature operating conditions of steam turbines. Lastly, an analysis of necessary regulatory and legislative changes in South Korea’s nuclear framework is presented, identifying several key regulatory issues for repowering coal with nuclear energy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7bdfcf00c4ac4651a7fc471fa031ce5d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-7bdfcf00c4ac4651a7fc471fa031ce5d2025-08-20T02:55:52ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-12-011724649310.3390/en17246493Evaluation of Coal Repowering Option with Small Modular Reactor in South KoreaSemin Joo0Seok Ho Song1Seokjun Oh2Staffan Qvist3Jeong Ik Lee4Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of KoreaQvist Consulting Limited, Middlesex, Southall UB1 3EP, UKDepartment of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of KoreaThe Paris Agreement emphasizes the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from coal power. One suggested approach is repowering coal-fired power plants (CPPs) with small modular reactors (SMRs). South Korea plans to retire CPPs in the coming decades and requires alternative options for coal-fired energy. This study presents a scoping analysis comparing variable renewable energy (VRE) sources with SMRs for repowering CPPs in the Korean context. The analysis indicates that SMRs may be a more favorable option than VRE sources, particularly due to their load-following capabilities. In this study, two types of SMRs were investigated: high-temperature gas reactors (HTGRs) and pressurized water reactors (PWRs). HTGRs are suitable to fit the high-temperature operating conditions of steam turbines but require multiple units due to their low volumetric flow rates. PWRs, while matching the volumetric flow rate of existing CPP turbines, require additional thermal energy sources to meet the high-temperature operating conditions of steam turbines. Lastly, an analysis of necessary regulatory and legislative changes in South Korea’s nuclear framework is presented, identifying several key regulatory issues for repowering coal with nuclear energy.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/24/6493small modular reactorcoal repoweringrenewable energyregulatory system of nuclear power plant |
| spellingShingle | Semin Joo Seok Ho Song Seokjun Oh Staffan Qvist Jeong Ik Lee Evaluation of Coal Repowering Option with Small Modular Reactor in South Korea Energies small modular reactor coal repowering renewable energy regulatory system of nuclear power plant |
| title | Evaluation of Coal Repowering Option with Small Modular Reactor in South Korea |
| title_full | Evaluation of Coal Repowering Option with Small Modular Reactor in South Korea |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Coal Repowering Option with Small Modular Reactor in South Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Coal Repowering Option with Small Modular Reactor in South Korea |
| title_short | Evaluation of Coal Repowering Option with Small Modular Reactor in South Korea |
| title_sort | evaluation of coal repowering option with small modular reactor in south korea |
| topic | small modular reactor coal repowering renewable energy regulatory system of nuclear power plant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/24/6493 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT seminjoo evaluationofcoalrepoweringoptionwithsmallmodularreactorinsouthkorea AT seokhosong evaluationofcoalrepoweringoptionwithsmallmodularreactorinsouthkorea AT seokjunoh evaluationofcoalrepoweringoptionwithsmallmodularreactorinsouthkorea AT staffanqvist evaluationofcoalrepoweringoptionwithsmallmodularreactorinsouthkorea AT jeongiklee evaluationofcoalrepoweringoptionwithsmallmodularreactorinsouthkorea |