Electricity generation by type in South Korea

As of 2022, more than half of all electric power generation in South Korea came from fossil fuel sources such as coal and liquid natural gas. Around 9.4 percent of electric power generation that year came from renewable sources. Because South Korea lacks natural resources, it is a significant importer of LNGs and coal. However, pollution and climate change concerns have incentivized the government to invest in renewable energy.

How much energy is South Korea consuming?

In 2021, South Korea ranked in the top 20 countries with the highest energy consumption globally. Compared to the population, energy consumption across the country is relatively high. Because of how technologically developed the country is, more power is expected to be needed in the future to continue maintaining existing standards of living. When looking at final consumption levels by source, renewable energy took up around only five percent in 2021. However, this is more than double what figures were 10 years prior, showing that renewable energy is slowly growing as a viable energy source for the country.

Types of renewable sources being developed

Both the public and private sectors have invested time and resources into developing the renewable energy industry, of which solar and wind are primary sources. Investments into infrastructure for this industry, such as wind farms and PV cells and modules, have been made to meet increasing energy demands. The continued investment has increased the share of wind and solar energy in electricity production in the last ten years.