The effect of interest in renewable energy on US household electricity consumption: An analysis using Google Trends data

Park, Sungjun,Kim, Jinsoo Elsevier 2018 RENEWABLE ENERGY Vol.127 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Google Trends is a service based on big data that shows the frequency of global searches in real time. As an index of individual interest, Google Trends has been used in various research fields. This study estimates the relationship between household electricity consumption and individuals' interest in energy based on Google Trends data. In particular, from the viewpoint of renewable energy, we compare the relationship between electricity consumption and the “renewable” Google Trends keyword with that between electricity consumption and other keywords. A model is constructed to examine the effect on household consumption of substituting electricity with renewable energy. We find that household electricity consumption decreases by 16.017 million kWh for every one unit increase in search of the “renewable” keyword. This study therefore illustrates that Google Trends enables the estimation of driving factors that are difficult to uncover when analyzing with various economic indicators.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> We investigate the impact of Google Trends data on the US household electricity consumption. </LI> <LI> The panel analysis is applied to examine the effect of renewable energy on household electricity consumption. </LI> <LI> The “renewable” and “temperature” keywords are significant with household electricity consumption. </LI> <LI> Household electricity consumption decreases as “renewable” keyword search volume increases. </LI> </UL> </P>

An Economic and Environmental Impact Analysis of Renewable Electricity Generation Policy

Kyungwon Park(박경원),Sung Won Kang(강성원) 한국에너지기후변화학회 2021 에너지기후변화학회지 Vol.16 No.1

We analyzed the impact of increasing renewable electricity on Korea’s electricity policy: 8th Basic Plan for Long-term Electricity Supply and Demand; Renewable Energy 3020 Action Plan; and 3<SUP>rd</SUP> Korea Energy Master Plan. We used a single-country static computable general equilibrium model with internalizing CO₂ and air pollutants emissions. We assumed a ~22% reduction compared with the base year emissions due to the Korea Emissions Trading Scheme. We applied six scenarios, where each scenario depends on the increasing rate of the renewable electricity share and total factor productivity (TFP) improvement in the renewable electricity generation industry. As the renewable electricity share increases, the GDP loss increases, but TFP improvement reduces this loss. The share of electricity from fossil fuel and nuclear power decreases due to the increasing share of renewable electricity. However, the share of electricity decreases, and that of fossil fuels increases in national energy consumption with rising electricity prices. Moreover, the co-benefit of CO₂ reduction is the reduction of air pollutants. As the total production increases after the TFP improvement of the renewable electricity industry, the effect of reducing air pollutants is partially offset.

Examination of excess electricity generation patterns in South Korea under the renewable initiative for 2030

김필서,조소빈,임만성 한국원자력학회 2022 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.54 No.8

According to the Renewable Energy 3020 Implementation Plan announced in 2017 by the South Korean government, the electricity share of renewable energy will be expanded to 20% of the total electricity generation by 2030. Given the intermittency of electricity generation from renewable energy, realization of such a plan presents challenges to managing South Korea's isolated national electric grid and implies potentially large excess electricity generation in certain situations. The purpose of this study is: 1) to develop a model to accurately simulate the effects of excess electricity generation from renewables which would arise during the transition, and 2) to propose strategies to manage excess electricity generation through effective utilization of domestic electricity generating capabilities. Our results show that in periods of greater PV and wind power, namely the spring and fall seasons, the frequency of excess electricity generation increases, while electricity demand decreases. This being the case, flexible operation of coal and nuclear power plants along with LNG and pumped-storage hydroelectricity can be used to counterbalance the excess electricity generation from renewables. In addition, nuclear energy plays an important role in reducing CO2 emissions and electricity costs unlike the fossil fuel-based generation sources outlined in the 8th Basic Plan

전력시장의 기후변화대응과 행정법의 과제 - 재생에너지전기 직접구매제도를 중심으로 -

이국현 연세법학회 2023 연세법학 Vol.43 No.-

기후변화대응을 위한 에너지전환의 영역에서 시장친화적이고 비권력적이며 현실적인 방안으로 민간 부문의 자발적 운동인 RE100이 큰 영향력을 미치고 있다. RE100은 전력 수요를 통해 공급에 영향을 미쳐 화석연료가 아닌 재생에너지를 사용한 전력 생산으로 유도하는 것이다. 전력의 생산 및 공급은 대표적으로 생존배려의 대상에 해당하는 것으로 공공의 이익을 위한 공익사업에 해당한다. 한국의 전력시장은 종래 공기업인 한국전력공사가 전력시장을 독점하였으나, 이른바 ‘IMF 경제위기’를 겪으면서 발전 부문에 경쟁체계가 도입되었다. 이후에도 전력산업의 경쟁체계 도입에 관한 논쟁이 지속되었는데, 기후변화대응에 따른 에너지전환의 시점에 이르러서야 이에 힘입어 점차 전력시장이 더 개방되고 추가적 개방 가능성까지 타진되고 있다. RE100의 이행수단으로 재생에너지전기 직접구매제도(제3자PPA, 직접PPA)를 도입한 것이 최근 주목된 대표적 예이다. 그런데 전력시장의 기후변화대응이 그 긴급성으로 인해 다소 충분한 논의를 거치지 못하거나 법치주의원리에 부합하지 못하게 진행되고 있는 것은 아닌지 점검해 볼 필요가 있다. 전력시장도 기후변화대응도 우리의 삶에 전반적으로 영향을 미치는 매우 중요한 문제이기 때문에 더욱 그렇다. 더 중요한 문제일수록 법치국가원리가 요구하는 절차와 형식을 거쳐 더 충분한 논의를 할 필요가 있기 때문이다. 전력시장의 기후변화대응이 제기하는 공법적 쟁점에 대한 검토 결과 요지는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 헌법상 경제질서의 관점에서 보았을 때 헌법 제120조 제1항의 “경제상 이용할 수 있는 자연력”에 전력 또는 전기에너지는 포함되지 않는다. 둘째, 헌법 제35조에 근거한 환경권의 내용으로 “깨끗한 전기를 사용할 권리”가 인정된다. 셋째, 전기사업법상 전기사업허가나 전기신사업등록으로 전력산업에 참여하게 되는 민간 부문은 행정법상 공익사업을 수행하는 특허기업에 해당한다. 넷째, 재생에너지 직접구매제도에 해당하는 제3자PPA와 직접PPA 모두 의회유보원칙과 포괄위임금지원칙에 위반되는 헌법적 문제점을 가지고 있으므로, 이에 대한 입법적 보완이 필요하다. 전력시장의 기후변화대응에서 행정법이론이 풀어야 할 주요 과제로 제시되는 것은 다음과 같다. 첫째, 헌법 제120조 제1항의 자연자원이나 전파 등이 경제적으로 이용되고 있음을 고려할 때, 행정법상 공물 법리는 어떻게 대응하여야 하는가. 둘째, 전기사업법상 전기사업허가와 전기신사업등록에서 볼 수 있듯이, 실정법상 신고나 등록이 규제 완화의 측면에서 사용되면 강학상 허가뿐만 아니라 특허에 대하여도 그 변형된 형식으로 실정법상 신고나 등록이 사용될 수 있는바, 이를 반영한 신고, 등록, 허가, 특허 등에 관한 이론적 정리 및 해명이 필요하다. 셋째, 생존배려의 공적 과제가 다양한 방식으로 수행될 수 있는 상황에서 행정법상 특허기업 법리, 행정사법론, 보장국가론의 관계를 고려한 종합적인 정리 및 분석이 필요하다. 넷째, 행정법이 다루는 주제들은 법적 문제와 정치적 또는 정책적 문제를 구별하기 어려운 경우가 많은바, 그 주제를 다루는 행정법의 방법론을 발전시킴에 있어 개별행정법의 다양하고 구체적인 주제들에 대하여 행정법이론을 적용하는 과정이 중요하다. In the area of energy transition to respond to climate change, RE100, a voluntary movement in the private sector with a market-friendly, non-powerful and realistic plan, is having a great influence. RE100 influences supply through electricity demand, leading to electricity production using renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. The renewable energy electricity direct purchase system (third-party PPA, direct PPA) was recently introduced in the Korean electricity market as a means of implementing RE100. However, there is a need to check whether the response to climate change in the electricity market has not been sufficiently discussed due to its urgency or is being carried out in a manner that does not comply with the principles of the rule of law. This is especially true because the electricity market and climate change response are very important issues that affect our lives overall. This is because the more important an issue is, the more necessary it is to discuss it through the procedures and format required by the rule of law. The summary of the review of the public law issues raised by the electricity market’s response to climate change is as follows. First, from the perspective of the constitutional economic order, electric power or electrical energy is not included in the “natural forces that can be used economically” in Article 120, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution. Second, the “right to use clean electricity” is recognized as an environmental right based on Article 35 of the Constitution. Third, the private sector that participates in the electric power industry through electric business licensing or new electric business registration under the Electricity Business Act is considered a special permission company performing public utilities from the perspective of the Administrative Law. Fourth, both third-party PPA and direct PPA, which are direct purchase systems for renewable energy, have constitutional problems that violate the principle of the Nondelegation Doctrine, so legislative supplementation is necessary. The main tasks presented in responding to climate change in the electricity market that administrative law theory must solve are as follows. First, considering that natural resources and radio waves under Article 120, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution are being used economically, how should we respond to the legal doctrine of public property under the Administrative Act? Second, as can be seen in the electric utility license and new electric utility registration under the Electric Utility Act, if reporting or registration under positive law is used in the aspect of deregulation, reporting or registration under positive law is required in a modified form not only for permission but also for special permission. Since it can be used, theoretical organization and explanation regarding reporting, registration, permission, special permission, etc. that reflect this are needed. Third, in a situation where the public task of implementation of public utility can be carried out in various ways, a comprehensive summary and analysis is necessary considering the relationship between special permission enterprise legal principles, administrative private law theory, and guaranteed state theory in administrative law. Fourth, the topics covered by administrative law are often difficult to distinguish between legal issues and political or policy issues, so in developing the methodology of administrative law that deals with those topics, it is necessary to apply administrative law theory to various and specific topics of individual administrative law.

신·재생에너지 활성화를 위한 전기소매사업자에 대한 법적과제

이현정(Lee, Hyun-Jeong),김하나(Kim, Ha-Na) 강원대학교 비교법학연구소 2017 환경법과 정책 Vol.18 No.-

2015년 12월 채택된 파리협정이 2016년 11월 4일 공식 발효됨으로써 우리나라는 UN기후변화 사무국에 제출한 자발적 국가결정기여(INDC: Intended Nationally Determined Contribution)를 이행하기 위해 노력할 의무를 지게 되었다. 특히 파리협정의 내용에는 교토의정서상 규정된 범위인 온실가스 감축만이 아니라 적응, 재원, 기술이전, 역량배양, 투명성 등을 포괄하고 있어 파리협정의 모든 당사국은 이를 위해 노력할 의무를 지게 된다. 우리나라는 2030년까지 에너지, 산업공정, 농업, 폐기물 등 경제전반에서 온실가스 배출전망치 대비 37%를 감축한다는 목표를 설정하였고 구체적인 수치로는 국내시장 25.7%, 해외 탄소시장 11.3%를 포함한 것이다. 이에 우리나라도 신재생에너지의 확대를 위해 전력시장의 진입규제를 대폭 완화시켜 사실상 전력소매시장이 일부 개방되어 일반인이 스스로 생산한 전기를 일정지역 내에서 판매할 수 있게 되었다. 기존은 생산한 전력은 한국전력이나 전력거래소에서만 판매할 수 있었기 때문에 적은 자원을 판매하는 데에도 전력거래소의 회원가입, 한국전력과의 계약 등의 절차가 필요하고 이에 따른 비용이 소요되어 불필요한 규제로 인식되어 왔다. 이를 위해 전력거래지침과 전기사업법을 개정하여 이를 통해 전기차 충전사업자 및 에너지저장장치 등의 에너지 신기술을 이용한 충전사업도 전기판매사업에 해당하게 되었다. 그러나 한편으로 전력소매시장을 개방해 일정 구역의 소규모 분산전원을 자금력을 가진 소수의 사업자가 독점하게 될 가능성도 배제할 수 없다는 지적도 있어 전기요금의 무분별한 인상과 공급계약에 관련된 법적 문제점에 대해서도 논의되어야 할 것이다. 또한 소규모 태양광발전소 운영자와의 신축주택에 따른 일조방해로 발전량 손실과 관련해 손해배상결정도 있어 향후 소규모 신재생에너지 생산자가 증가할 경우 이에 따른 분쟁도 증가될 우려가 있어 기본적인 가이드라인이 제시되어야 할 것으로 보인다. 본 논문에서는 우리보다 앞서 소매전력시장을 전면 개방한 일본의 전력시스템 개혁의 개요 및 계약유형 등을 살펴본 후 신재생에너지를 비롯한 소규모 전기사업자를 일반인이 선택해 공급계약을 체결과 관련된 법적과제를 검토한다. At the New Year meeting with top officials, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced to relieve the regulations that control the entry to electricity market in order to foster new energy industries as one of measures for ‘creating new engines for economic growth.’ Retail electricity market becomes partly open, and consumers can also sell electricity to other consumers within a certain area. The Electric Power Exchange Guidelines and the Electric Utility Act will be revised, which will allow electric vehicle chargers and energy storage systems to resell electricity to the power market. To implement the deregulation of the electricity market, the Guideline for Exchange of the Small-scale New and Renewable Power was recently revised on February 29. Even with the exchange of a small amount of electricity, several processes such as the membership application to Korea Power Exchange and the contract with the Korea Power Electric Corporate (KEPCO) are required. The deregulation aims at fostering the relevant industries by reducing the increased costs for industries to comply with requirements. The generation sector detached from the vertically-integrated monopoly KEPCO due to the electric sector reform in 2001, and the KEPCO has been in charge of transmission, distribution and sales of electricity. Generation and investment in power plants are determined through competition among six KEPCO subsidiaries and privatized generation companies including energy subsidiaries of conglomerates (SK, GS, Posco, etc.) and small and medium-scale energy companies. Based on these circumstances, as this deregulation allows the participation of other entities to the electricity market, the changes in electric service industries and the accelerated emergence of new technologies and new industries are expected. Also, as electricity consumers’ options diversify, the existing patterns of electricity consumption are likely to change. The creation of new businesses can be expected through competition of the provided services. However, the legal issues related to electricity supply contract and a thoughtless rise in electric rates need to be discussed since it is warned that few operators with enough funds could monopolize small-scale distributed power within a certain area. Recently, compensation for the decreased electricity generation from small-scale solar panels due to a new building was determined. Therefore, the relevant guidelines need to be established to appropriately respond to these disputes. This study aims at suggesting legal recommendations for the retail electricity market opening, by examining the relevant judicial affairs in Japan where the retail electricity market has completely opened on April 1, 2016, and electricity consumers can choose and make a supply contract with an electric utility. A person or a prosumer can make a contract with electricity utilities to sell the generated electricity. Like the precedents observed in Japan, people are likely rather consign the trade to the commissioned traders. We also need to include the commissioned traders into ‘electricity sellers’ of our laws and respond to these changes by revising the relevant laws and guidelines. Prosumers’ contributions to the environment will be expanded according to increased exchanges of small-scale new and renewable power. However, as mentioned earlier, the relevant guidelines are required, focusing on legal systems and protection of electricity consumers to foster the compliance capacity for the stable power supply and stimulate prosumers.

일본 소매전력 자유화와 시민사회의 대응

김은혜(Kim Eun-hye) 강원대학교 사회과학연구원 2021 사회과학연구 Vol.60 No.1

2016년 4월부터 소매전력의 전면 자유화가 실시되면서 일본 시민들은 전력회사와 전기 공급을 직접 선택하게 되었다. 시민들은 일상적으로 ‘전기요금 비교 사이트’를 검색하거나, 가스나 스마트폰, 인터넷 등 다양한 전기요금과 ‘결합상품 할인’ 등을 참고하고 있다. 소매전력의 전면 자유화 이후 시민들은 전기요금의 가격 인하를 기대함과 동시에, 가능하다면 재생 가능 에너지를 선택하고 있다. 이 연구는 전력산업의 다변화라는 관점에서 일본 경제산업성(METI)이 주도하는 전력 자유화를 둘러싼 정책 변화와 관련된 논점들로서 경쟁과 규제, 전기요금, 탈원전 등에 주목했다. 이러한 변화는 전후부터 최근까지 지역 발송전 독점형태로 운영되어왔던 일본 전기사업의 시장이 개방되는 것을 의미한다. 그러나 전력 자유화 이후 2018년 홋카이도 정전사태는 전력의존적 사회의 모습을 드러냈고, 2021년 겨울 일본 전력시장에서 일본도매전력거래소(JEPX)의 거래 가격은 사상 최고치 기록하기도 했다. 이 연구에서는 일본 시민들이 일상생활에서 접하고 있는 전력 자유화의 가능성과 한계를 고찰하고 간략한 함의도 제시해 보았다. The Japanese government began the full liberalization of retail electricity markets in April 2016. Citizens could choose their own electricity supply. Japanese citizens routinely search “Compare cheap energy prices and suppliers sites” or referring to “bundle discounts” that combine various services such as gas, smartphones, and the internet with electricity bills. After the full liberalization of retail power, people are expecting to cut the price of electricity bills and, if possible, choose renewable energy. This study has considered the issues such as competition and regulation, electric charges, nuclear phase-out of policy change surrounding electric power liberalization led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in the perspective of diversification of the electric power industry. These changes mean market liberalization for the electricity business, which had been operated the decades-long monopoly of Japan’s regional power companies from postwar Japan until recently. After liberalization of electricity industry, Hokkaido blackout in 2018 revealed dangers of electricity-dependent society, the power prices (baseload) surged in Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX) in winter season 2021. It means power liberalization does not only mean a price cut. While this study examined the possibility and limits of liberalization of power that Japanese citizens encounter in everyday life, it also briefly presented implications.

Techno-economic Analysis of Power To Gas (P2G) Process for the Development of Optimum Business Model: Part 2 Methane to Electricity Production Pathway

Partho Sarothi Roy,Young Don Yoo,김수현,Chan Seung Park 한국청정기술학회 2023 청정기술 Vol.29 No.1

This study shows the summary of the economic performance of excess electricity conversion to hydrogen as well as methane and returned conversion to electricity using a fuel cell. The methane production process has been examined in a previous study. Here, this study focuses on the conversion of methane to electricity. As a part of this study, capital expenditure (CAPEX) is estimated under various sized plants (0.3, 3, 9, and 30 MW). The study shows a method for economic optimization of electricity generation using a fuel cell. The CAPEX and operating expenditure (OPEX) as well as the feed cost are used to calculate the discounted cash flow. Then the levelized cost of returned electricity (LCORE) is estimated from the discounted cash flow. This study found the LCORE value was ¢10.2/kWh electricity when a 9 MW electricity generating fuel cell was used. A methane production plant size of 1,500 Nm3 /hr, a methane production cost of $11.47/mcf, a storage cost of $1/mcf, and a fuel cell efficiency of 54% were used as a baseline. A sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the storage cost, fuel cell efficiency, and excess electricity cost by ±20%, and fuel cell efficiency was found as the most dominating parameter in terms of the LCORE sensitivity. Therefore, for the best cost-performance, fuel cell manufacturing and efficiency need to be carefully evaluated. This study provides a general guideline for cost performance comparison with LCORE.

Power-to-gas systems with a focus on biological methanation

Seongcheol Kang,Anil Kuruvilla Mathew,Amith Abraham,Okkyoung Choi,Byoung-In Sang 한양대학교 청정에너지연구소 2022 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.23 No.6

Power to Gas (P2G) systems aim to store surplus renewable electricity generated in the form of gaseous fuels such as hydrogenor methane. The concept is ideal for storing the surplus energy for long periods in gaseous form and can be used in the futurefor desired end applications, i.e. either in gaseous form or electricity. In the P2G process, the surplus renewable energyconverts into methane (gaseous form) in a two-step process: electrolysis followed by methanation. The electrolysis process isused as the source for hydrogen generation, which further reduces carbon dioxide to produce methane. In this review, differentelectrolyzers and methanation processes are compared for the P2G process. The major process parameters and hydrogen gasliquid mass transfer are discussed by comparing different process conditions and reactor configurations used in biologicalmethanation. An understanding of the techno-economic analysis indicates that cost of the hydrogen generation is the key factorthat determines the overall economics of the P2G system. The cost of hydrogen generation is associated with the capital costof the electrolyzer and the cost of the electricity. It is expected that once this technology becomes mature, the economics of P2Gsystems will improve in the future.

재생에너지 발전 확대에 따른 전력계통한계가격의 변화

이서진 ( Seojin Lee ),유종민 ( Jongmin Yu ) 한국환경경제학회·한국자원경제학회 2022 자원·환경경제연구 Vol.31 No.2

이 논문은 우리나라의 재생에너지 발전이 전력계통한계가격(System Marginal Price: SMP)에 미치는 영향을 실증적으로 분석한다. 2016~2020년 시간별 데이터를 사용하여 일일 평균, 피크 시간대, 피크 외 시간대의 SMP에 대해 ARX-GARCHX 모형으로 추정한 결과 총부하, 가스도입가격과 태양광 및 풍력 발전이 중요 결정요인으로 작용하고 있고, 특히 태양광 및 풍력 발전이 증가함에 따라 SMP는 하락하는 급전순위효과(merit order effect)가 존재하는 것을 확인하였다. 특히, 태양광 발전량의 1% 증가는 SMP 수준을 0.005%가량 하락시킬 뿐만 아니라 변동성을 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 재생에너지 발전이 증가함에 따라 SMP가 하락하여 기존 발전소의 수익성 감소와 재생에너지 투자 감소로 이어질 수 있음을 시사하고, 신재생에너지 보조금이 소매 부분 전기요금에 부담을 가중하더라도 계통한계가격이 낮아져서 이를 상쇄할 수 있음을 의미한다. This paper empirically analyzes the effect of renewable electricity generation on the System Marginal Price (SMP) in Korea. Using an ARX-GARCHX model with hourly data from 2016 to 2020, we evaluate SMP determinants and merit order effects. As a result, we find that solar and wind power, as well as gas price and total load, play a critical role in the SMP. In particular, solar power reduces the SMP level but raises volatility during peak and off-peak periods. This result implies that SMP may fall as renewable electricity generation increases, leading to a decrease in the profitability of existing power plants and investment in renewables. On the other hand, even if the subsidy of renewable energy increases the burden on the SMP, it can be offset by the merit order effect, which lowers the SMP.

신재생에너지 활용에 따른 아파트에너지 절감방안 연구

김선주(Kim, Sun-Ju),김행종(Kim, Haeng-Jong) 한국주거환경학회 2014 주거환경(한국주거환경학회논문집) Vol.12 No.4

This study was per ㎡ apartments in renewable energy electricity saving measures were analyzed public. First, based on the results of multiple regression analysis of renewable energy per ㎡ apartments and analysis of public electricity-saving measures are as follows. The greater the number of households, the fewer the number of lifts, the more condominium, apartment hallway type more likely, a small number of years elapsed apartment (new apartment), the more electricity per unit area decreases the public was analyzed. Next, the hidden layer of the neural network analysis result, ㎡ party public electricity affects orientation is unknown. However, the accuracy of the model is high compared to the regression analysis, so take advantage of them when you can have a high predictive power. Neural network analysis of the relative influence of the independent variables are the size of Type of ownership>Corridor type>the uppermost stratum>the number of households>he number of Dong> the number of lifts>Heating Type>number of years>Administration Type.