IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - November/December 2014 - 68

Ring-Shaped Nationwide Pipeline Network
IIsan Uijeongbu
Incheon
LNG Terminal

Chuncheon
Hongcheon

Seoul

Youngin
Wonju
Suwon
Jecheo n Yeongwol
Eumseong
Samcheok LNG Terminal
Pyeongtaek
Asan
Taebaek (Under Construction)
LNG Terminal
Goesan Danyang
Chonan
Yeongju
Uljin
Cheongju Andong
Sogok
Boryung
Boeun
Yeongduk
Buyeo Okcheon
Sangju
Nonsan
E.Gimcheon Pohang
Gunsan
Geumho
Hotan
Maecheon
Hwayang Oedong
Buan
Jeonjo Dalseong
Gochang
Cheongdo
Kimje Muju
Ulsan
Sunchang
Hamyang
Yeonggwang
Masan
Jeong-gwan
Namwon
Jangsung
Okgwa
Busan
Gwangyang

compared with the parallel lines
used only for long-distance shipping (transmission) of natural gas.
In this sense, Korea's high-pressure gas network may be regarded
as a distribution network rather
than a transmission network for
natural gas.

Long-Term Demand
Forecast for Natural Gas

Table 3 shows the current longterm demand forecast for natural
gas in South Korea. The total natural gas demand of 38.287 million t
in 2012 is projected to decrease to
37.699 million t by 2027. While
the town gas demand of 20.108
million t in 2012 is forecast to
grow to 29.943 million t by 2027,
natural gas demand for electrical
generation is expected to decrease
Geoje
Mokpo
from 18.179 million t in 2012 to
Yeosu Tongyeong LNG Terminal
7.756 million t by 2027. The reaHenam
son: as base-load power plants,
such as nuclear and coal-fired genPipeline in Operation (3,022 km)
erators, are added to the system,
Pipeline Under Construction (1,291 km)
the growth of LNG-fired power
plants for supplying peak load is
expected to decrease. The demand
figure 12. The LNG terminal and gas pipeline network in South Korea.
forecast for LNG used by electriMBtu and an exchange rate of KRW1,020/US$1, can be cal- cal power plants may vary, however, depending on the targets
adopted for greenhouse gas reductions and the use of nuclear
culated as follows:
US$15-17/MBtu¸ 250 Mcal/MBtu ≈ KRW60-68/Mcal = and coal-fired power plants in long-term planning.
US¢5.88-6.67/Mcal.

The Natural Gas Pipeline Map
Figure 12 shows the natural gas pipeline network used for
delivery and distribution of virtually all the natural gas
(99.9%) in South Korea and the LNG terminals in South
Korea. The LNG pipeline system is analogous to a vehicle
highway network rather than the electrical transmission
system. Since 70% of the land the system occupies lies in
mountainous areas of South Korea, the availability of rightsof-way for both vehicle highways and gas pipelines is limited by the geography; electrical transmission lines, on the
other hand, may be constructed over mountains. But it should
be noted that underground gas pipelines have more flexibility for siting compared to overhead high-voltage electrical
transmission lines, especially for 765-kV transmission. LNG
storage is compatible with heating use by consumers as well
as large-scale LNG-fueled electrical power plants in large
metropolitan cities (e.g., Seoul and Busan). (See Figure 24,
which describes the power system in South Korea.) The gas
network in the country is in a "loop type" configuration, as
68

ieee power & energy magazine

Natural Gas and Electrical System
Interactions in South Korea
Electrical Energy Generation
and Demand Configuration

Figure 13 summarizes various electricity statistics for South
Korea in 2011.
Generation

Historical data on generation facilities in South Korea
over the past 30 years are presented in Figures 14-18. The
figures show a growth of nearly nine times the generation
capacity to 86,287 MW in 2012 as compared to 9,591 MW
in 1981. This is equivalent to an annual average growth rate
(AAGR) of approximately 8% in the total available generation capacity. The electric power generation capacity for
natural gas-fired power plants increased to a level close to
that of nuclear power plants. Although the share of combined-cycle units in the capacity mix decreased from 24.2%
of the total in 2002 to 22.9% in 2012, these units' share
november/december 2014

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