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ARTICLE · 10 FEBRUARY 2022

South Korea Opens Door For Direct PPAs For Renewable Projects

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The amendments to the Electric Utility Act, which for the first time allow renewable energy generators in South Korea to sell electricity directly to end-users without having to go through the Korean Power Exchange...

South KoreaEnergy and Natural Resources

The amendments to the Electric Utility Act, which for the first time allow renewable energy generators in South Korea to sell electricity directly to end-users without having to go through the Korean Power Exchange (KPX), are now in force. 

Under the pre-existing electricity market structure, direct Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) between generators and end-users are prohibited under the Electric Utility Act. Instead, generators are required to sell into the KPX's hourly auction pool, with Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) as the sole off-taker (given that KEPCO is the only 'electric sale business' licenced under the Electric Utility Act).

These amendments to the Electric Utility Act are therefore a potential game changer for the renewables sector, effectively removing KEPCO's monopoly on the sale of renewable energy to end-users. Power sold under this direct PPA scheme will however not be eligible for the issuance of renewable energy

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