Geothermal Development in the Republic of Korea: Country Update 2010-2014

Abstract

Geothermal utilization in Korea can be represented by remarkable increase of geothermal heat pump (GHP) installation. GHP installation in Korea has shown more than an average 50 % annual increase and we have seen more than 100 MWt new installations since 2012. Total installations of GHP are estimated to around 790 MWt at the end of 2014, which is more than four times of the capacity reported at WGC 2010. Major installations are for public and office buildings thanks to strong government supports and a special Act. Recently, a temporary subsidy scheme supporting installations for green houses and aquaculture has been contributing to the rapid increase of GHP as well. Other direct-uses including hot springs, individual heating and space heating applications remain stagnant for the last five years at 44 MWt. There is no geothermal power generation in Korea yet due to lack of high temperature hydrothermal resources. However, there have been continuous R&D efforts for utilizing deep geothermal resources including theoretical and technical potential assessments and pre-feasibility study of enhance geothermal system (EGS). Technical potential of EGS power generation in Korea reaches 19.6 GWe and a technical roadmap states that we can install 200 MWe of geothermal power plants by 2030. All of these efforts along with interests of decision makers and industry have led to launching of an EGS pilot plant project at the end of 2010. The EGS pilot plant project being the first attempt to realize geothermal power generation in Korea is a five-year term, government funded and industry matching project which aims to construct a MWe-class geothermal power plant by the end of 2015 in Pohang located at southeastern part of Korea.