South Korea is facing a surge in power demand driven by semiconductor clusters and AI data centers, which could require up to 40 GW of additional capacity. A recent Chosun Ilbo energy conference brought together government officials, industry leaders, and academics to discuss how to meet this demand while staying on track with carbon neutrality goals. The consensus was that nuclear power, renewables, LNG, and grid infrastructure must be planned together rather than treated as separate policies. Experts stressed that industries like semiconductors and AI need stable, carbon-free baseload power, which means large nuclear reactors and small modular reactors should be secured proactively alongside renewable expansion. The conference also addressed the need to retain existing coal and LNG plants as backup resources rather than phasing them out entirely. Speakers argued that during the energy transition, distinguishing between energy to reduce and reserves to retain is critical for crisis response. Grid management strategies like output adjustments and energy storage systems were discussed to handle peak solar generation. The article highlights that South Korea's energy security strategy must integrate nuclear, renewables, LNG, and grid infrastructure to support the 40 GW demand from semiconductor and AI projects while pursuing decarbonization.
