Evaluation of Coal Repowering Option with Small Modular Reactor in South Korea

Semin Joo, Seok Ho Song, Seokjun Oh, Staffan Qvist and Jeong Ik Lee ()
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Semin Joo: Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
Seok Ho Song: Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
Seokjun Oh: Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
Staffan Qvist: Qvist Consulting Limited, Middlesex, Southall UB1 3EP, UK
Jeong Ik Lee: Department of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-32

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: small modular reactor; coal repowering; renewable energy; regulatory system of nuclear power plant (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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