Life Cycle-Based Strategy and Feasibility of Surplus-to-X-to-Electricity on Domestic Surplus Utilization in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

Energy transition has played a core role in addressing environmental issues in recent generations. Continuous fossil fuel consumption has caused a large amount of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, which is a primary reason for climate change. Many countries argue that renewable energy can become a bridge to reach a low-carbon energy economy; however, its ability varies depending on geographical features. Particularly, although the Republic of Korea aims for a low-carbon energy economy by utilizing renewable electricity, it is geographically limited to installing large renewable energy farms; thus, new strategies for low-carbon energy resources are essential to reflect Korea's regional characteristics. Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea has a large capacity of wind farms, but their power generation is often stopped due to oversupply than demand, resulting in frequent curtailment and substantial excessive energy. In line with this situation, a new idea on domestic surplus utilization emerges to overcome both the energy losses on Jeju Island and clean energy needs in Korean land. This research analyzes the strategy of surplus-to-X-to-electricity on domestic surplus utilization in the environmental and economic aspects. Clean H2 is produced via water electrolysis using surplus electricity on Jeju Island and then transported to Korean land in the form of H2 carriers. After being imported into land, they are consumed for power generation through a fuel cell system. Throughout its overall phases, its economic and environmental feasibility is explored based on diverse scenarios of H2 carrier forms and transportation distances. As a result, given that governmental incentives regarding the environment and clean energy are applied, an NH3-based strategy can become feasible in both economic and environmental criteria.