Korean Nuclear Society: "12th Basic Electricity Plan Must Include Expansion of New Nuclear Power Plants"

"Responding to Power Demand for the Three Mega Projects, Including Semiconductors and AI Data Centers"
Three Key Policy Recommendations: Introducing Nuclear PPA, Securing New Sites, and More

In order to stably implement the government’s three mega projects, including the semiconductor cluster and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, it has been suggested that the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand should include plans to expand new nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs). The argument is that it is essential to secure carbon-free baseload power in advance to respond to the rapidly increasing electricity demand from high-tech industries.

The Korean Nuclear Society issued a press release on July 8, proposing that the government expand new nuclear power plants and SMRs, secure nuclear plant sites in advance, and improve the electricity market system. The society stated, “Securing stable, carbon-free baseload power is essential to meet the large-scale electricity demand of advanced industries.”

Panoramic View of Saeul Nuclear Power Plant. The Asia Business Daily Database

The society analyzed that, even excluding the Yongin semiconductor cluster already reflected in the existing power plan, additional generation facilities needed for the Southwest semiconductor industrial complex and AI data center construction amount to 24.7GW. This is equivalent to about 18 units of the latest domestic nuclear power plant, the APR1400 (1.4GW per unit).

The society argued, “Because semiconductor factories and AI data centers are facilities that require a stable supply of high-quality electricity 24 hours a day, it is difficult to ensure a stable supply with only renewable energy sources, which have significant output fluctuations.” Accordingly, it suggested, “The 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, currently being established, must reflect the power demand of advanced industries and simultaneously present the supply capacity, sites, and construction timelines for new large-scale nuclear power plants and SMRs.”

Nuclear Plant Sites and the Power Market Must Be Addressed Together

The society emphasized that, to construct new nuclear power plants in a timely manner, it is necessary to secure nuclear plant sites and build transmission networks in tandem. Since it takes more than 10 years for site selection and permitting, candidate sites for new plants must be secured in advance, and transmission lines and substations should be designated as national strategic facilities to expedite the approval process.

It also proposed introducing a nuclear power plant power purchase agreement (PPA) system that allows companies to purchase nuclear-generated electricity directly, and improving the electricity market system so that companies with large-scale electricity demand can invest in nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs). In addition, it suggested that consideration should be given to including SMRs as eligible for special PPA provisions under the Special Act on the Promotion of the AI Data Center Industry in the future.

The society stated, “For advanced industries to be competitive, the physical foundation of stable electricity supply must be secured,” and urged, “The government should re-examine the consistency between industrial strategy and power supply planning and promptly prepare measures to expand the corresponding carbon-free baseload power.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.