Abstract

The advent of the new Era of AI Transformation has created a lot of challenges and opportunities in the electricity supply sectors in the global society. In the United States, the power demand by AI data centers shall be increased 3-4% in the second part of 2020’s. The commercial hyper-scalers and defence data centres are working on both the short- and long-term approach to secure the electricity and cooling water supply. The same AI fever will prevail the South East Area region. In addition, the demand for the “Clean Steam” and “EV charging” shall additionally require the swift response from the power generation and delivery sectors. Obviously the short-term approach shall rely on the power generation using CCGT engines. However, the long-term solution shall depend on the active service from the commercial nuclear power generation sectors. The global society needs the 24/7/365 power supply from the nuclear stations. How to support the real implementation of new nuclear power plants on time and within the budget is the critical issues. This mission cannot be carried out by single country. Instead, it needs the global and regional cooperation especially to overcome the financial uncertainties, the supply chain deficiency, the geopolitical issues and the issues over the risk perception on the nuclear energy. The close cooperation between Singapore and South Korea can establish the good foundation to promote the peaceful civilian nuclear power generation in the region.

About the Speaker

Yongsoo Hwang is currently serving as a Distinguished Professor at KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS) in South Korea. He is currently studying the global nuclear non-proliferation, security, nuclear export & control, SMR implementation and the nuclear fuel cycle including spent nuclear fuel disposal and storage. He served as a President of Korean Nuclear Material Management (KNMM) Society and the Korean Chapter of International Nuclear Material Management (INMM-KC.) Before joining KINGS, he served as a President of Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation And Control (KINAC) and a Senior Vice President of Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI.)

He worked as a Member of the Technical Advisory Group for NSSC, Korean Nuclear Safety and Security Commission. He also oversighted the nuclear security and licensing review for the Wolsng LILW repository. He served as a Member for the IAEA Multi-Lateral Nuclear Agreement (MNA) Expert Group to solve the Iranian Nuclear Dilemma between 2004 and 2005. He also contributed as a member for the 1st and other Korean Public and Stakeholder Engagement Teams to identify the solutions for the Used Nuclear Fuel Management. He was located at US CSIS as a Visiting Fellow during the 123 Negotiation between the ROK and the US. He now serves as a center director of INC International nuclear Non-proliferation and Cooperation center (INC) at KINGS.

He received his BS from the Department of Nuclear Engineering in Seoul National University and MS and Ph D from the Department of Nuclear Engineering in University of California, Berkeley. In 2006, he was selected as the “Best Nuclear Scholar of the Year” by Korean Nuclear Society.