Maximum power demand on the 9th: 91.2GW… Exceeded 90GW for the first time this winter
From record-breaking cold waves to heavy snowfall… Winter electricity demand continues to rise
On the 10th, a record-breaking cold wave with temperatures approaching -20 degrees Celsius hit the Korean Peninsula, putting power supply on alert. Electric power authorities are also on edge as heavy snowfall of up to 40 cm falls in Chungcheong and Jeolla regions.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Power Exchange on the 10th, maximum electricity demand soared to 91.2GW as of 4:45 p.m. the previous day.
It exceeded 90GW for the first time this winter, breaking the record for three consecutive days following the 7th (84.1GW) and 8th (85.7GW). Fortunately, the supply reserve capacity is 20.0GW, with a reserve rate of 22%.
It is highly likely that the maximum power demand will be set again on this day. The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted that the minimum morning temperature would drop to -21 degrees Celsius, and heavy snowfall would continue to fall mainly in the mountainous areas of Chungnam, Jeolla, and Jeju Island.
Moreover, as cold air moves south and strong winds blow, the perceived temperature is expected to drop further, increasing electricity demand.
When the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced winter power supply and demand measures on December 5 last year, it predicted the maximum power demand this winter to be around 92.8GW. It is predicted that as snow piles up, solar power generation will decrease, and if a cold spell arrives, electricity demand will soar to over 97.8GW.
In particular, with up to 10 cm of snow predicted in the Jeolla region, where about 40% of solar power generation is concentrated, demand for electricity may increase further.
In order to respond to the increasing demand for electricity, the electric power authority operates all 23 nuclear power plants except Saeul Unit 1. Power supply capacity increased by 5GW from the previous year to 110.2GW, the highest level ever.
The authorities predicted that even if electricity demand increases to 97.8GW, stable supply and demand management will be possible with reserve capacity of 12.4GW and reserve rate of 12.7%. Typically, a reserve ratio of 10% or more is considered stable.
An official from the electric power authority said, “In the event of an unexpected situation such as an unexpected failure of a generator or a sudden cold wave, we plan to operate up to 6.8GW of additional spare resources through upward operation of coal generator output and downward adjustment of voltage.”
(Sejong = News 1)
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