발전원별 LCOE 추정과 시스템 LCOE 적용 필요성

The proliferation of renewable energy and nuclear power expansion policies is raising interest in the economic viability of power sources. According to reports based on levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) estimation methods published by numerous organizations, nuclear power is less economically viable than renewable energy in most cases, with the exception of a few countries. The results of this study show that nuclear power is evaluated as an economical power source in Korea compared to renewable energy and gas power generation, despite the application of conservative assumptions that are unfavorable to nuclear power, such as reflecting the latest construction costs, operation and maintenance costs, and rising fuel costs. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) is frequently used worldwide for policymaking, modeling, and evaluating technology cost competitiveness. LCOE analysis has been a valid method when power systems target dispatchable sources. However, with the introduction of variable renewable energy sources into the grid, LCOE’s results are now being questioned. The intermittency and uncertainty of renewable energy require systematic consideration in assessing power generation costs. This study points out the limitations of the existing LCOE method, which has been consistently used, and introduces the System LCOE method, a recently developed alternative. It also proposes its use in future power generation economic evaluations.