Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Smart Grid Applications and Developments pp 259–277Cite as

Governing the Transition of Socio-technical Systems: A Case Study of the Development of Smart Grids in Korea

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

This chapter examines the motivations, processes, and outcomes of the development of smart grids in South Korea through the perspectives of governance and innovation systems. Drawing on desktop research and semi-structured interviews, this chapter has two major findings. First, the development of smart grids in Korea has been shaped by various factors including macroeconomic policy, the role of the government, and experimentation. The complex interactions between these factors at the landscape, regime, and niche levels have impacted on the development of smart grids. Second, while Korea’s government-led approach has its strengths in driving change, it has also exposed weaknesses in the country’s ability to mobilise the private sector and consumer participation. Major obstacles including partial electricity market reform and public distrust exist. A systemic perspective is needed for policy in order to accommodate the changes required for smart grid development. Regulatory reforms, particularly price-setting mechanisms, and consumer engagement are priority areas for policy change.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Albadi MH, El-Saadany EF (2008) A summary of demand response in electricity markets. Electr Power Syst Res 78:1989–1996

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Beierle T, Cayford J (2002) Democracy in practice: public participation in environmental decisions. Resources for the Future, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  3. Byrne J, Glover L, Lee H, Wang YD, Yu JM (2004) Electricity reform at a crossroads: problems in South Korea's power liberalization strategy. Pac. Aff. 77(3):493–516

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cho MY (2011) S. Korea KEPCO to invest $7.2 billion in smart grid by 2030. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/18/kepco-korea-idUSTOE71H00R20110218. Accessed 20 May 2011

  5. CIA (2011) The World Factbook, South Korea. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html. Accessed 20 June 2011

  6. Coenen L, Raven R, Verbong G (2010) Local niche experimentation in energy transitions: a theoretical and empirical exploration of proximity advantages and disadvantages. Technol Soc 32(4):295–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. DOE (2008). What the smart grid means to Americans. The United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC. http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/oeprod/DocumentsandMedia/ConsumerAdvocates.pdf. Accessed 10 Jan 2012

  8. Edquist C (1997) Systems of innovation approaches—their emergence and characteristics. In: Edquist C (ed) Systems of innovation: technologies, institutions and organizations. Pinter, London, pp 1–35

    Google Scholar 

  9. EIA (2010) Country analysis briefs, South Korea. Energy Information Administration. http://www.eia.doe.gov. File://Z:/NewCABs/V6/South_Korea/Full.html. Accessed 20 June 2011

  10. EIA (2011) International energy statistics. Energy Information Administration. http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/IEDIndex3.cfm?tid=44&pid=44&aid=2. Accessed 25 May 2011

  11. EMSC and KPX (2009) 2009 annual report: electricity market trends & analysis. Electricity Market Surveillance Committee, Korea Power Exchange, Seoul

    Google Scholar 

  12. EPRI (2011) EPRI analysis estimates costs-benefits of fully developing smart grid. http://my.epri.com/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_234325_317_205_776_43/http%3B/uspalecp604%3B7087/publishedcontent/publish/epri_analysis_estimates_costs_benefits_of_fully_developing_smart_grid_da_777189.html. Accessed 20 Jun 2011

    Google Scholar 

  13. Executive Office (2011) A policy framework for the 21st century grid: enabling our secure energy future. Executive Office of the President of the United State, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  14. Faruqui A, Harris D, Hledik R (2010) Unlocking the 53 billion Euro savings from smart meters in the EU: How increasing the adoption of dynamic tariffs could make or break the EU’s smart grid investment. Energy Policy 38:6222–6231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Faruqui A, Hledik R, Sergici S (2010) Rethinking prices: the changing architecture of demand response in America. Public Utilities Fortnightly 30–39

    Google Scholar 

  16. Faruqui A, Palmer J (2011) Dynamic pricing and its discontents. Regulation, Fall 16–22

    Google Scholar 

  17. Geels F (2001) Technological transitions as evolutionary reconfiguration processes: a multi-level perspective and a case-study. Paper presented at the Nelson and Winter Conference (12–15 June 2001). Aalborg, Denmark. Organised by DRUID (Danish Research Unit for Industrial Dynamics), Research Policy and Corporate and Industrial Change

    Google Scholar 

  18. Geels F, Elzen B, Green K (2004) General introduction: system innovation and transitions to sustainability. In: Elzen B, Geels F, Green K (eds) System innovation and the transition to sustainability: theory, evidence and Policy. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  19. Goodwin M, Painter J (1996) Local governance, the crises of Fordism and the changing geographies of regulation. Trans Inst Br Geogr 21(4):635–648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Gouldson A, Hills P, Welford R (2008) Ecological modernisation and policy learning in Hong Kong. Geoforum, 39(1):319–330

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hargreaves T et al (2010) Making energy visible: a qualitative field study of how householders interact with feedback from smart energy monitors. Energy Policy 38(10):6111–6119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hood C, James O, Scott C (2000) Regulation of government: has it increased, is it increasing, should it be diminished? Public Adm 78(2):283–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. IEA (2010) CO2 emissions from fuel combustion highlights, 2010 edn. International Energy Agency, Paris. http://www.iea.org/co2highlights/co2highlights.pdf

  24. IEA (2011) Technology roadmap: smart grids. International Energy Agency, Paris. http://www.iea.org/papers/2011/smartgrids_roadmap.pdf

  25. Japan FS (2011) Kitakyushu to test dynamic pricing for electricity in FY2012, 17 Oct 2011. http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/031319.html. Accessed 25 Oct 2011

  26. Johnson J (1990) Selecting ethnographic informants. Sage Publications, Newbury Park

    Google Scholar 

  27. Jones RS, Yoo B (2010) Korea's green growth strategy: Mitigating climate change and developing new growth engines. OECD economics department working papers, No. 798, ECO/WKP 54, OECD Publishing, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kang MH (1996) The Korean business conglomerate: Chaebol then and now. Korea Research Monograph. Southgate Publishers, Devon, UK

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kang MJ, Park H (2011) Impact of experience on government policy toward acceptance of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Korea. Energy Policy 39(6):3465–3475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Kemp R, Rotmans J (2005) The management of the co-evolution of technical, environmental and social systems. In: Weber M, Hemmelskamp J (eds) Towards environmental innovation systems. Springer, Berlin, pp 33–54

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  31. KEPCO (2011) Dividends payment section. http://www.kepco.co.kr. Accessed 25 May 2011

  32. KOSTAT (2011) Preliminary results of the 2010 population and housing census. Statistic Korea, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Republic of Korea. http://kostat.go.kr/portal/english/news/1/1/index.board?bmode=read&aSeq=245048. Accessed 07 Nov 2011

  33. KOSTAT (2011) Results of the 2010 population and housing census (Households and Housing Units.) Statistic Korea, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Republic of Korea. http://kostat.go.kr/portal/english/news/1/9/index.board?bmode=read&bSeq=&aSeq=249192&pageNo=1&rowNum=10&navCount=10&currPg=&sTarget=title&sTxt. Accessed 07 Nov 2011

  34. KOSTAT (2012) Explore Korea through statistics 2012. Statistics Korea. http://kostat.go.kr/Explore12/EBook.htm. Accessed 26 Aug 2013

  35. KPX (2010) Handbook of electricity statistics in Korea (as of Dec 2009). Korea Power Exchange, Seoul

    Google Scholar 

  36. KPX (2011) Korea power exchange website: about KPX. http://www.kpx.or.kr/english. Accessed 18 May 2011

  37. KPX (2012) Korea power exchange website: statistics. http://www.kpx.or.kr/english/. Accessed 26 Aug 2013

  38. KSGI (2011) Korea smart grid institute website. http://www.smartgrid.or.kr/10eng2-4.php. Accessed 18 June 2011

  39. Lee BH, Ahn HH (2006) Electricity industry restructuring revisited: the case of Korea. Energy Policy 34(10):1115–1126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Lin B, Jiang Z (2012) Designation and influence of household increasing block electricity tariffs in China. Energy Policy 42(March):164–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Mah D, Hills P (2009) Collaborative governance for sustainable development: wind resource assessment in Xinjiang and Guangdong Provinces, China, Sustainable Development, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 1 June 2010. doi:10.1002/sd.466

  42. Miles M, Huberman A (1994) Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Thousand Oaks, Sage, California

    Google Scholar 

  43. MKE and KSGI (2009) For the World’s Green Growth—Jeju smart grid test-bed in Korea. Ministry of Knowledge Economy and Korea Smart Grid Institute. Seoul. http://www.smartgrid.or.kr/Ebook/JejuTestBed.pdf

  44. MKE and KSGI (2010) Korea’s Smart Grid Roadmap 2030—Laying the Foundation for Low Carbon, Green Growth by 2030. Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Korea Smart Grid Institute, Seoul. http://www.smartgrid.or.kr/10eng4-3.php

  45. MOLEG (2011) Act on the creation and facilitation of use of smart grids. Ministry of Government Legislation, Seoul, Republic of Korea. http://www.moleg.go.kr/english/searchListR.mo?q=smartgrid&x=31&y=11. Accessed 10 Jan 2012

  46. MOLEG (2011) Enforcement decree of act on the creation and facilitation of use of smart grids. Ministry of Government Legislation, Seoul, Republic of Korea. http://www.moleg.go.kr/english/searchListR.mo?q=smartgrid&x=31&y=11. Accessed 10 Jan 2012

  47. MOLEG (2011) Enforcement rule of the act on the creation and facilitation of use of smart grids. Ministry of Government Legislation, Seoul, Republic of Korea. http://www.moleg.go.kr/english/searchListR.mo?q=smartgrid&x=31&y=11. Accessed 10 Jan 2012

  48. Nye M, Whitmarsh L, Foxon T (2010) Sociopsychological perspectives on the active roles of domestic actors in transition to a lower carbon electricity economy. Environ Plann A 42:697–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Consulting Ovum (2009) Broadband policy development in the Republic of Korea: a report for the Global Information and Communications Technologies Department of the World Bank. Ovum Consulting, London

    Google Scholar 

  50. Park KS (2011) The Korean Electric Power Industry & Corporate Governance of KEPCO. Paper presented at the 6th meeting of the OECD network on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises in Asia, Seoul, 17–18 May 2011. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/35/60/48049493.pdf

  51. Pierre J, Peter G (2000) Governance, politics and the state. Macmillan Press, Basingstoke

    Google Scholar 

  52. Ragwitz M, Held A, Stricker E, Krechting A, Resch G, Panzer C (2010) Recent experiences with feed-in tariff systems in the EU—A research paper for the International Feed-in Cooperation: a report commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Rip A, Kemp R (1998) Technological change. In: Rayner S, Malone EL (eds) Human choice and climate change, vol 2. Battelle Press, Ohio, pp 327–399

    Google Scholar 

  54. SGA (2011) Smart Grid Australia: maximising consumer benefits. Smart Grid Australia, Melbourne. http://www.smartgridaustralia.com.au/uploads/documents/VIC060411_Consumer_Working_Group.pdf

  55. UNEP (2006) Global environment outlook year book 2006. Nairobi, United Nations Environment Program, Kenya

    Google Scholar 

  56. Vine E, Rhee CH, Lee KD (2006) Measurement and evaluation of energy efficiency programs: California and South Korea. Energy 31(6–7):1100–1113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Watson J, Sauter R, Bahaj B, Patrick J, Myers L, Gann D et al (2007) Integrating micro-generation into energy networks and buildings : full research report. ESRC End of Award Report, RES-338-25-0003. ESRC, Swindon

    Google Scholar 

  58. Watson J, Sauter R, Bahaj B, Patrick J, Myers L, Wing R (2006) Unlocking the power house: policy and system change for domestic micro-generation in the UK. Science and Technology Policy Research, The Freeman Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton

    Google Scholar 

  59. World Bank (2011) World development indicators database. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/POP.pdf. Accessed 01 Jul 2011

Download references

Acknowledgments

This chapter is an updated republication of the paper “Governing the transition of socio-technical systems: A case study of the development of smart grids in Korea” by Daphne Ngar-yin Mah, Johannes Marinus van der Vleuten, Jasper Chi-man Ip, Peter Ronald Hills, Energy Policy 45, 133–141. The copyright permission for reusing the paper has been granted by Elsevier. We would like to acknowledge appreciation to our anonymous interviewees in Korea for contributing their insights and providing useful information. We gratefully acknowledge the funding of this research by the University of Hong Kong through the Initiative on Clean Energy and Environment, and the Hong Kong Baptist University through the Faculty Research Grant of Faculty of Social Sciences (FRG2/12-13/057 and FRG1/13-14/051). We remain solely responsible for any errors and omissions in the findings and interpretations expressed in this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Daphne Mah & Jasper Chi-man Ip

  2. The Kadoorie Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Daphne Mah, Johannes Marinus van der Vleuten & Peter Hills

Authors
  1. Daphne Mah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Johannes Marinus van der Vleuten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jasper Chi-man Ip
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Peter Hills
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daphne Mah .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China

    Daphne Mah

  2. The Kadoorie Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Peter Hills

  3. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Victor O.K. Li

  4. Paris School of International Affairs and Centre d’Etudes Europeennes, Tsinghua University, Paris, France

    Richard Balme

Appendix 1: List of Interviewees

Appendix 1: List of Interviewees

As some interviewees agreed to be interviewed anonymously, this study indicates interviews by number. The first two digits indicate the interview numbers and that followed by the year of interviews. The interview formats included face-to-face interview (FI), telephone interview (TI), and email correspondence (EC).

Code

Interviewees background

Type of interview

Date of interview

01/2011

A senior executive, Korea Smart Grid Institute (KSGI)

EC

27 May 2011

02/2011

A senior executive, Korea Power Exchange (KPX)

TI

31 May 2011

03/2011

Same interviewee as 01/2011, KSGI

FI

25 April 2011

04/2011

An associate professor, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University

FI

26 April 2011

05/2011

Same interviewee as 02/2011, KPX

FI

26 April 2011

06/2011

A senior executive, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)

FI

26 April 2011

07/2011

A postgraduate student, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University

FI

25 April 2011

08/2011

A senior executive, Total Operation Centre, KPX

FI

28 April 2011

09/2011

Same interviewee as in 06/2011, KEPCO

EC

16 June 2011

10/2011

A government official of Smart Grid Division, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

FI

28 April 2011

11/2011

Same interviewee as 02/2011, KPX

TI

27 October 2011

12/2011

Same interviewee as in 06/2011, KEPCO

TI

27 October 2011

13/2012

Same interviewee as 02/2011, KPX

TI

30 January 2012

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mah, D., van der Vleuten, J.M., Ip, J.Cm., Hills, P. (2014). Governing the Transition of Socio-technical Systems: A Case Study of the Development of Smart Grids in Korea. In: Mah, D., Hills, P., Li, V., Balme, R. (eds) Smart Grid Applications and Developments. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6281-0_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6281-0_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-6280-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-6281-0

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation