December 11, 2023
We are proud to announce that the Repower Initiative began its collaboration together with a research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
KAIST research team joins Repower Initiative to investigate techno-economic alternatives for coal phase-out
[Seoul, 10/11/23] - Repower - a programme repowering coal power with clean heat sources such as nuclear and geothermal – have announced a formal collaboration with a research team at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the leading science and technology university in South Korea.
The partnership will examine the challenges and opportunities in South Korea of reusing coal power plants but switching the source of heat to host advanced nuclear systems, geothermal, electrical heat stores or the use of existing coal power plants as grid interconnection points for new renewable energy generation – an alternative to simply retire aging and polluting coal plants. A comprehensive analysis will review a variety of key factors, including technology options and suitability, the policy and regulatory environment, financing and public acceptance.
Professors Jeong Ik Lee, Man-Sung Yim, and Yonghee Kim of KAIST will lend their extensive expertise to this undertaking, building on existing Repower partnerships with Industry, Academics & Financial Institutions in Poland, South Korea, Indonesia, and China.
Coal power plants contribute the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions globally and in Asia many are newly built, but the need to cut emissions make longer-term operation untenable. The ability to retain infrastructure such as turbines, grid connection, and its workforce, but without the fossil fuels, is a huge opportunity for the clean energy transition.
Professor Jeong Ik Lee of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said:
“The South Korean government has announced an energy policy of relying less on coal and more on nuclear, and therefore this study is very timely to suggest a practical pathway to achieve the goal.”
Quantified Carbon founder, Dr Staffan Qvist, who began Repower with a study in Poland published in 2020 said:
“This collaboration between Repower and KAIST focuses on one of the most highly leveraged interventions possible in the global energy system - the repowering of existing modern coal plant to replace the polluting fuel with clean alternatives.
“The practical insights generated will be crucial in shaping strategies and policies for repowering coal plants, making a tangible contribution to the tackling climate change.”
Contact
Albert Payaró-Llisterri, Repower Lead at QuantifiedCarbon
+46 72 365 72 18; [email protected]
Notes to Editors
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