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Extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones (TC) are considered the most significant weather events causing severe damage to the power distribution grid. However, few or no studies have been performed at the perspectives of the power system although it is necessary, but a relevant study has recently received attention in South Korea. Accordingly, the motivation of this paper addresses the need to present a study of the impact of TCs, focusing on the analysis and the estimation of TC-induced damage. The study uses three sets of historical data: TC data, power distribution grid damage data, and local weather data from 2008 to 2018. Using these data, first, this paper provides an overview of the damage characteristics to understand power system damage. TC, local weather, and TC-induced damage data are analyzed to find their correlated characteristic. Then, TCs are classified by their track patterns associated with the damage characteristic. The importance of TC track is proved by the significance test and comparing the damages by TC tracks. Furthermore, the underlying key hazard variables (i.e., TC and local weather variables) associated with TC-induced damages are identified. Lastly, this paper proposes a multi-stage damage estimation methodology to evaluate the intensity of TC-induced damages using identified major TCs and local weather variables as well as TC tracking information. Therefore, this study will provide useful insights to assess TC-induced damages from the power system perspective in South Korea. • The impact of tropical cyclone (TC) on the power grid in South Korea is analyzed. • The correlated characteristics between local weather and damages are found. • TC classified by track patterns and significance is proved by statistical analysis. • The key hazard variables associated with TC-induced damages are identified. • A multi-stage damage estimation method is proposed to evaluate TC-induced damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the rising pressure for low carbon energy transitions in Northeast Asia (NEA), interconnecting local power grids for interstate power trade allows to share reserve capacity and to redistribute intermittent renewable energy across time zones, contributing to regional sustainability. Using a linear programming model that minimizes total energy system costs to meet hourly power demand, we build a hypothetical electricity transmission model for three urban demand centers interconnecting China, South Korea, and Japan to test economic and environmental competitiveness of the trilateral power trade with carbon pricing. In the economic perspective our results indicate that interstate electricity trade enables cost savings at all levels of CO2 prices tested (0–180USD/ton of CO2 emitted) through more efficient fuel consumptions on an hourly basis at the NEA regional level. However, ambitious carbon pricing (above 90 USD/ton CO2 emitted) is still essential for trade to ensure equitable trade impacts for all participating nodes. While trade utilizes gaps in resource availabilities and technology costs across nodes in cost minimization, results show inadequate carbon pricing leads to extra thermal combustions at the local level although regional total emissions reduce. • This paper proposes a phased approach to Asia Supergrid by interconnecting the three demand centers of Northeast Asia, China North, South Korea, and Japan West, without remote renewable sources as a regional energy cooperation model to accelerate carbon phaseout. • The trilateral power trade is effective in reducing the total cost of energy system at all levels of CO2 prices tested (0–180USD/ton of CO2 emitted) compared to autarkic generation, but ambitious carbon pricing (above 90) is essential for ensuring low carbon transitions at all participating nodes. • Trade enables cost savings by increasing renewable power output in export nodesfor transmission and avoiding fuel/emission cost at import nodes. New investment cost for line construction and renewable expansion is offset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the South Korean government decided to retire thirty coal-fired power plants early by 2034. Rather than dismantling all of them, some of them are proposed to be used as cold reserves. This paper seeks to explore the public preference and cost bearing for utilization of early retiring coal-fired power plants as a cold reserve by adopting a contingent valuation. To this end, the public willingness to pay (WTP) for the utilization was elicited through a survey of 1000 South Korean households. The payment vehicle was set to be an increase in monthly electricity bill. The method of inducing the WTP was determined as one-and-one-half-bounded questioning. The spike model was selected to reflect the WTP observations with zeros. The average monthly household WTP was estimated as KRW 1596 (USD 1.32), which was worth 3.6% of the average monthly electricity bill (KRW 43,950 or USD 36.32) per household. If the average WTP is re-calculated for all households in the country, it will reach KRW 263.52 billion (USD 217.80 million) a year. Therefore, the utilization can be introduced to the extent that this level of cost is incurred. Several issues that need to be solved in order for the utilization to succeed are also discussed. [Display omitted] • Utilization of early retiring coal-fired power plants as cold reserves is proposed. • Public preference and cost bearing for the utilization were examined. • Data on public willingness to pay (WTP) for the utilization were gathered. • Monthly mean WTP was KRW 1596 (USD 1.32), which was 3.6% of the electricity bill. • Its national value reached KRW 263.52 billion (USD 217.80 million) a year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building energy consumption and carbon emissions must be reduced to decrease the rate of global warming. To improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings, energy retrofitting can serve as an effective strategy. Retrofitting historic buildings is difficult due to the conflict between the historical value and usefulness of the building, but a modern scientific approach can help ensure that valuable historical records and artifacts remain protected and available. In addition, the retrofit of historic buildings can contribute, although a small part, to reducing carbon emissions nationally, and can have a symbolic meaning as a combination of history and modernity. This paper proposes a package of appropriate measures to improve energy efficiency, reduce the energy consumption of buildings, and preserve regularly used historic buildings for 100-year-old wooden truss and masonry composite structured historic buildings in Korea. The proposed measures are applied to most historic buildings in Korea built in the 1920s and have the potential to improve building performance. A new approach to applying energy technology to historic buildings is proposed. The energy application suitability analysis process was established by integrating three analysis techniques: the energy-saving effect analysis technique, historical value impact evaluation technique, and economic analysis technique. To achieve an appropriate retrofit plan, the condition of a building was evaluated through on-site diagnosis. Thermal transmittance rate assessments, temperature, and humidity monitoring, and infrared thermal imaging analyses were performed to evaluate the building's condition. Consequently, thermal transmittance rates for the wall and roof of the historic building were 1.18 W/m2K and 1.67 W/m2K, respectively, which indicated a risk of excessive energy consumption and condensation. Then, the suitability of each energy technology was evaluated by analyzing its economic feasibility and impact on the historical value and by simulating the reduction in energy consumption of the building. Thereafter, based on the analyses, the energy technologies deemed suitable were integrated to form an energy-efficient retrofit package, and an appropriate solution was elucidated. In conclusion, the package with the lowest impact on the historical value and the highest energy reduction decreased the total energy consumption by 15.9%. According to the results of this study, the process and package solutions proposed in this study are appropriate measures for historic buildings built in the 1920s in Korea, and can be a strategy with the potential to reduce carbon emissions and energy. • A retrofit plan for a historic building in the 1920s in Korea was studied. • Retrofit packages were applied to reduce energy consumption. • A suitability assessment integrating three analysis methods has been proposed. • The appropriate retrofit scenario was derived in consideration of the historical value. • Applying the optimal retrofit scenario could realize an energy saving of 15.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]