2050 Complete Phase-Out of Coal Power... Carbon Neutrality Committee Sets 'Sudden Acceleration' for Energy Transition

'Maintaining 7 Coal Power Plants' Draft More Radical... "Clearly Signals Energy Transition"
Expanding Eco-Friendly Vehicle Share Up to 97% to Phase Out Internal Combustion Engine Cars
"2050 Carbon Neutrality Scenario Has No Legal Binding... 2030 NDC Enhancement Proposal Is the Issue"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Presidential Committee on Carbon Neutrality has presented a scenario to completely phase out coal-fired power generation by 2050. The draft released in August included some measures to maintain coal power, but the final plan excludes these and sets a more radical goal to achieve complete net zero (carbon neutrality). The plan also includes expanding the share of eco-friendly vehicles such as electric and hydrogen cars to up to 97%, effectively phasing out internal combustion engine vehicles entirely.

On the 18th, the Carbon Neutrality Committee held its 2nd plenary meeting at Nodeulseom in Seoul, deliberating and approving the '2050 Carbon Neutrality Scenario Final Plan' and the '2030 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target (NDC) Enhancement Plan.' The 2050 carbon neutrality scenario finalized by the committee is a reduced set of multiple options (A and B plans) compared to the previous three options. Previously, carbon emissions in 2050 ranged from 0 to 25.4 million tons, but according to the final plan, both options aim for zero carbon emissions, achieving perfect net zero.

The most notable feature of the final plan revealed that day is the complete shutdown of coal power plants. Plan A calls for a full halt to thermal power generation, while Plan B proposes stopping all coal power plants but retaining some liquefied natural gas (LNG) power generation. Among the three previously announced draft options, Plan 1 allowed for maintaining seven coal power plants, but the final plan, like the previous Plans 2 and 3, leaves no coal power plants operational. Regarding this, the committee explained, "The final plan was structured on the premise of a complete halt to coal power generation to send a clear signal for energy transition."

Accordingly, Plan A proposes expanding the share of renewable energy to 70.8% of total energy consumption, reducing nuclear power to 6.1%, and coal power to 0%. Plan B is designed to maintain LNG power generation at 5%, while reducing nuclear and coal power to 7.2% and 0%, respectively. Regarding the cessation of coal power, the committee stated that it assumed the establishment of relevant laws and compensation measures as prerequisites.

Looking in detail, Plan A aims for a more radical carbon reduction. Although both plans share the goal of achieving net zero, they differ significantly in reduction methods for the energy transition and transportation sectors. Plan A targets zero carbon emissions by completely stopping coal and LNG power generation in the energy transition sector, expanding the share of electric and hydrogen vehicles to over 97% (with electric vehicles at 80% and hydrogen vehicles at over 17%) in the transportation sector to reduce emissions by 2.8 million tons, and supplying all domestically produced hydrogen as green hydrogen in the hydrogen sector to achieve zero emissions.

On the other hand, Plan B includes maintaining some LNG power generation and internal combustion engine vehicles. It aims for 20.7 million tons of carbon emissions by partially retaining LNG power generation and completely phasing out coal power in the energy transition sector; 9.2 million tons of emissions by distributing 85% electric and hydrogen vehicles and less than 15% internal combustion engine vehicles using alternative fuels such as 'e-fuel' in the transportation sector; and limiting hydrogen sector emissions to 9 million tons by supplying some domestically produced hydrogen as by-product or extracted hydrogen, which involves carbon emissions. Although Plan B has higher carbon emissions than Plan A, it plans to reduce 84.6 million tons of carbon through reduction methods such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), exceeding Plan A's 55.1 million tons reduction, thereby ultimately achieving net zero.

Examining all sectors, Plans A and B set carbon emission targets as follows: energy transition 0 to 20.7 million tons, industry 51.1 million tons, buildings 6.2 million tons, transportation 2.8 to 9.2 million tons, agriculture/fisheries/livestock 15.4 million tons, waste 4.4 million tons, hydrogen 0 to 9 million tons, and fugitive emissions 0.5 to 1.3 million tons. They also propose removing 80.4 to 109.9 million tons of carbon through absorption and removal technologies such as CCUS.

A government official stated, "The core of the 2050 carbon neutrality scenario final plan is to minimize carbon emissions from electricity and heat production by halting coal power generation," adding, "For a smooth carbon-neutral transition in the energy, transportation, and industrial sectors, Plan B is more realistic than Plan A." The official further explained, "However, unlike the 2030 NDC enhancement plan, which is announced internationally and submitted to the United Nations (UN), the 2050 carbon neutrality scenario is literally a 'scenario' and has no obligation or binding force for international submission."

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