The supply of primary energy in Korea during 2008 was 240.75 million ton COE (crude oil equivalent). Of which 232.2 million ton COE (96.4%) was imported. The components of the imported energy resources were coal (27.1 %), crude oil (41.6 %), LNG (14.3 %), and nuclear (13.5%). Korea heavily depends on imported oil, especially oil from Middle East (82%).

Domestic primary energy was 8.55 million ton COE that accounted for only 3.6 % of the total. Renewable energy resources were mostly waste materials, and amounted in total 5.2 million ton COE.

The sum of hydro energy and waste material energy was 6.40 million ton COE, sharing only 2.7 % in the total primary energy of Korea. Korean government has designated a plan to raise the share of renewable energy, except for that of hydro energy, to 5 % by 2011, to 11% by 2030. The contents of the 11 % are wastes (3.7%), biomass (3.4 %), wind power (1.4%) and others (2.5).

Regarding biofuels in Korea, biodiesel fuels are currently in use. The raw materials for the biodiesel are mainly soybeans (80%), and remaining 20 % is shared by imported palm oil and domestic waste food oil. Some twenty companies are producing biodiesel and their total production capacity today amounts to 667,000 kℓ per year. Consumption of biodiesel in Korea has been steadily increasing every year: 90,000 kℓ in 2007, 180,000 kℓ in 2008, almost doubled during a single year. And it is estimated to be 270,000 kℓ in 2009. The mixing ratio of biodiesel to regular diesel oil is set at 1 % at present, and the ratio will be raised to 3 % in 2012. Consequently, consumption of biodiesel in Korea is expected to increase further in future.

Table  Supply Structure of Primary Energy of Korea (2008)

	Energy Resource	Crude Oil Equivalent (million ton)
Imported Primary Energy	Coal	65.18	232.20
	Crude Oil	100.15
	Nuclear	32.50
	LNG	34.37
Domestic Primary Energy	Coal	1.91	8.55
	Natural Gas	0.24
	Hydro	1.20
	Renewable	5.20
Total		240.75	240.75

 

Table  Consumption of Biodiesel in Korea

Year	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Consumption of Biodiesel (kℓ)	15,500	45,800	90,000	180,000	270,000

 

Fig.  Supply Structure of Primary Energy of Korea (2008)

 

Fig.  Consumption of Biodiesel in Korea

 

Source:
1) Korean Economics & Industry Data Handbook 2009, AID International Ltd.
2) USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Gain Report “Korea, Republic of Bio-Fuels, Bio-Fuels Production Report 2008”,
et al