According to the Korea Power Exchange (KPX), the daily maximum electricity demand was estimated at 68.85 million kW during peak hours yesterday, while backup electricity capacity was 12.98 million kW, with the electric power reserve rate being 18.9 percent. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) – The supply of electricity in South Korea experienced little to no disruption when the newly introduced temporary shutdown of eight aging coal-fueled power plants took effect for the first time yesterday.
According to the Korea Power Exchange (KPX), the daily maximum electricity demand was estimated at 68.85 million kW during peak hours yesterday, while backup electricity capacity was 12.98 million kW, with the electric power reserve rate being 18.9 percent.
In South Korea, a backup electricity capacity upward of 5 million kW is deemed ‘normal’ in electricity supply.
The environment-friendly initiative that put a halt to the operation of eight coal power plants more than 30 years old was an order from newly-elected president Moon Jae-in as part of efforts to tackle the problem of fine dust.
While many praised Moon over his staunch pro-environment stance, his energy policy proposals were met with concerns over electricity shortages, but yesterday’s stable level of electricity supply may put worries to rest.
However, some say it’s too early to be sure as electricity demand in June is typically low, and electric energy consumption could grow faster than expected when the summer nears.
When tallied up, the total installed capacity of the eight now terminated coal-fired power plants amounts to an estimated 2,854 MW.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
