Members

Energy Policy Simulator(EPS)

The Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) is a comprehensive analytical model designed to evaluate the impacts of energy policies across all sectors of the economy, including industry, power generation, and transportation. By integrating a wide array of policy levers—such as carbon pricing and renewable energy subsidies—users can construct customized scenarios to quantitatively assess greenhouse gas reductions, energy demand, and macroeconomic ripple effects, including GDP fluctuations and public health benefits derived from improved air quality. The EPS serves as a critical strategic compass for policymakers, providing a scientific foundation to identify the most cost-effective and beneficial climate action strategies while facilitating the design of optimal policy roadmaps that harmonize economic growth with environmental sustainability.

Carbon Budget Database

In order to limit global warming to 1.5°C, countries must submit its 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution(NDC) target to the United Nations by 2025. This database sets Korea’s 2035 NDC target based on the scientific emission allowance called the carbon budget and shows the emission reduction path to net-zero by 2050. A key feature of this database is its ability to present results derived from various methodologies and assumptions. It also aims to contribute to the international community’s efforts to address climate change by considering the feasibility of emission reduction targets.

Analysis of heavy snowfall damage and the need for new statistics as winter weather changes

This issue brief examines the impact of heavy snow damage amid climate change and underscores the urgency of updating statistical standards to reflect modern realities.

Multi-criteria renewable auction modeling considering the carbon footprint certification of photovoltaic modules

This study aims to investigate the efficiency and effectiveness of multi-criteria renewable auctions by constructing the multi-criteria agent-based renewable auction model. We simulated Korean solar photovoltaic (PV) auction market using the model, considering carbon footprint certification scheme of PV modules as a non-price selection criterion. The results show that low carbon footprint modules are extensively adopted than high carbon footprint modules, although the total costs required increased compared to the price-only auction. However, as the unit cost per carbon abatement is higher than the emission allowance cost, it is doubtful that multi-criteria auction is more cost-efficient than other policy instruments outside the auction. We have shown that the agent-based multi-criteria renewable auction model serves a useful tool to analyze the impact of auction design element on the auction results, and it can further be utilized to tailor the auction design by the model upgrade and modification.

It's time for a paradigm shift: the real typhoon damage starts in the fall

In the last decade, typhoons have been the second most destructive type of natural disaster. We need to focus on typhoons, particularly those that occur during the fall, as their intensity is anticipated to rise due to climate change.

The Gangnam Flood: Where Are We?

Over the past decade in Korea, flooding due to heavy rainfall has been responsible for the majority of natural disaster damages. With climate change expected to intensify these rainfall events, there is a pressing need to implement measures to reduce flood damage. Specifically, the Gangnam Station area in Seoul experienced severe flooding in 2022, yet effective policy and physical measures to combat such flooding remain insufficient.

If you ask about the future of South Korea, “Look up at the roof”

NEXT Group's own analysis of rooftop solar potential totaled 42.2 GW, providing more than 8% of the 2030 electricity generation (621.8 TWh) in the 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, resulting in a greenhouse gas reduction of 15.2 MtCO2. GIS estimates the combined rooftop solar potential of residential and industrial buildings is at least 42.2 GW, but given that the analysis in this issue brief is based on conservative assumptions, the actual potential could be more than double that. Due to the recent decrease in the installation cost of solar power generation facilities and the increase in electricity prices, it is possible to recover the investment cost in as little as 3 years, depending on whether the subsidy is based on housing support (30kW) or building support (200kW).

Reasonable Separation Distance Regulations: A First Step Toward Achieving RE100

In the analysis of photovoltaic power potential according to current separation distance regulations in South Korea, it was determined that 1) only 22% of solar potential may be utilized compared to the baseline case of no regulation and 2) in securing solar potential, separation distance regulation is a more significant constraint for roads than for residential areas. Furthermore, because industry location, power plant site possession level, and urban density vary by region, it is necessary to design detailed policies suitable for each region. Considering the current situation in which the number of photovoltaics licenses is decreasing due to a lack of power plant sites while many companies declare RE100, improvements to solar power separation distance regulations should be implemented more quickly.