Three South Korean academic societies in electricity, nuclear, and renewable energy jointly proposed that the country needs 20 new large nuclear power plants and 12 small modular reactors (SMRs) to maintain nuclear power at 35% of total generation by 2050. The recommendation was submitted for the 12th Basic Plan for Long-term Electricity Supply and Demand, which will shape national energy strategy for decades. The societies argue that expanding both nuclear and renewables is necessary for carbon neutrality, and that the two are complementary rather than competing sources. The proposal also calls for major investments in energy storage systems (ESS), pumped-storage hydro, and clean hydrogen storage to stabilize the grid as renewables scale past 100 GW. They recommend building an 'energy superhighway' using subsea HVDC lines to connect offshore wind farms. On market design, they urge a shift from the current cost-based pool system to one with contracts for difference, capacity markets for zero-carbon power, and regional pricing. The societies stress that long-term policy stability is critical because both nuclear and renewable projects require decade-long investment horizons.
