Mega-Projects: A Race for Speed or Velocity?

A physics lesson on the difference between speed and velocity, speed being just how fast, and velocity including direction, serves as a metaphor for the current South Korean government's energy and climate policies. The author recalls the "shock" of learning that returning to one's starting point in 10 seconds results in zero velocity, despite covering distance. This distinction, the author argues, is crucial for understanding the government's recent policy shifts.

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So the car's speedometer is actually wrong. It should be called a speed meter.

Initially, the government promised a "speed race" towards renewable energy, pledging rapid transitions, increased solar power generation, and ambitious targets. This approach, which included direction, was met with a mix of anticipation and concern. However, the recent introduction of "mega-projects", dubbed "Terra Projects", has shifted the focus to sheer speed, potentially at the expense of direction and environmental considerations.

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It feels increasingly difficult to keep up with the world's flow.

These massive projects, including semiconductor factories and AI data centers, necessitate significant increases in power generation and water supply, leading to proposals for expedited environmental impact assessments. The government is even considering special legislation to streamline these processes, raising concerns about safety and public acceptance, especially with the potential for additional nuclear power plants. The Minister of Environment's comment about managing greenhouse gas emissions from increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) power generation suggests a pragmatic, albeit potentially compromising, approach.

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Is it speed, or just velocity?

The author expresses concern that the focus on these mega-projects, particularly those benefiting foreign companies, is consuming South Korea's resources, electricity, water, and land. Projections show data centers alone will consume 15% of the nation's total electricity by 2040, with a significant portion driven by these new projects. The article concludes by questioning the ultimate destination of this rapid development, asking if the government is merely looking at the speedometer and neglecting the actual direction of travel, potentially jeopardizing the energy transition, climate action, and a just transition.

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We need to discuss how to reduce greenhouse gases that will be emitted from here.