Assessment of the Effects of Flexibility Enhancement in Conventional Power Plants; A Case Study of Korea

As part of efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, the share of carbon-free power sources such as renewable energy is expected to continue expanding. However, due to the inherent output variability of renewables, their growing share will inevitably increase the impact on power system stability.

Therefore, securing system flexibility is essential for stable grid operation. While Korea’s Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand includes provisions to enhance flexibility by deploying energy storage systems (ESS), the potential for significant investment costs presents a challenge. In this context, enhancing the flexibility of existing conventional power plants may serve as a cost-effective and viable alternative.

This study quantitatively analyzes the effectiveness of flexibility enhancement measures for key conventional power sources in the Korean power system—namely nuclear, coal-fired, and LNG combined-cycle power plants—and provides implications for future power system operation and policy-making.