Geothermal development in the Republic of Korea: Country update 2020-2022

Abstract

Geothermal utilization in Korea is primarily direct-use, especially with geothermal heat pump (GHP) installation, because there are no high temperature resources associated with active volcanoes or tectonic activity. Installed GHP capacity has increased rapidly since the middle of the 2000’s, with more than 100 MWth of new installation annually until 2018. Annual new addition shows a decreasing trend since 2019, with ~74 MWth estimated new installation in 2021. The total installed capacity estimated to be ~1.6 GWth as at the end of 2021. Major installations are for large facilities including public and office buildings and greenhouses mainly thanks to strong government subsidy programs and the mandatory act. Other direct-uses including hot springs, individual heating and space heating application remain stagnant for the last decade at ~44 MWt.
There have been continuous R&D efforts for utilizing deep geothermal resources including theoretical and technical potential assessments, exploration of potential hydrothermal resources, pre-feasibility study and a pilot project of enhance geothermal system (EGS). However, all activities associated with deep geothermal development or exploration were stopped after the earthquake which occurred in the vicinity of the Pohang EGS pilot plant site in November, 2017.