Integrated Regional Energy Policy and Planning Framework: Its Application to the Evaluation of the Renewable Roadmap of Carbon Free Jeju Island in South Korea1

Integrated Regional Energy Policy and Planning Framework: Its Application to the Evaluation of the Renewable Roadmap of Carbon Free Jeju Island in South Korea1

Young-Doo Wang (University of Delaware, USA), Wei-Ming Chen (University of Delaware, USA) and Yong-Kyu Park (University of Delaware, USA)
Copyright: © 2012 |Pages: 25
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61350-344-7.ch013

Abstract

Regional energy planning, which considers the unique pattern of local energy needs and local energy resources can be a tool to mitigate fossil fuel-triggered problems and enhance sustainability. Many researches underline the importance of regional energy planning but there exists some room for improvement in the planning approaches. This chapter introduces an Integrated Regional Energy Policy and Planning Framework (IREPP), which is conceptually comprehensive and also enhances feasibility of implementation. This framework contains important concepts of sustainable energy planning, including integrated resource planning, soft energy path, distributed generation using decentralized energy technologies, and energy-environment-economy-equity balance (E4). The IREPP also includes implementation feasibility analysis and highlights the importance of monitoring and evaluation. In the second part of this chapter, the IREPP is applied to the case of Jeju, the southernmost island of Korea. Jeju’s “Mid- and Long-Term Roadmap of Renewable Energy Planning” intends to promote renewable energy applications (a 50 percent target in 2050) in order to build a carbon free energy system. This study evaluates Jeju’s overall Roadmap via the lens of IREPP and also assesses the rational and feasibility of achieving its individual renewable target.
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Review Of Regional Energy Planning Approaches

The importance of regional energy planning for regional development has been recognized, especially in the triangular relationship of regional development, energy planning and environmental management (Nijkamp & Volwahsen, 1990). Many times regional energy planning can capture specific development goals that are not achievable through national-level policies. That is because policy makers at the local (i.e. province) level have concerns which are typically very specific, and which include the precise set of measures (techno-economic as well as political) that would achieve some desired target at minimum cost (Cai et al, 2009; Kanudia & Loulou, 1999).

In many areas of the world, regional energy plans have been under development for decades, and they are getting a significant academic interest recently. Research on regional energy planning has shown various foci, including decision-making and planning method. Ramachandra (2009) treated regional energy planning as a constrained optimization problem, which means policy makers need to satisfy local energy need with an optimal manner (least cost or most efficiency) under the availability of local sources. Ramachandra developed a computer program, named “decision support systems (DSS)” to assist policy makers to find the best mix of energy resources at least economic and environmental cost.

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