Research
- Academic Research
- Project
- Stakeholder Network Analysis for Green Hydrogen Ecosystem
- The research investigates how stakeholder networks shape the formation and transformation of hydrogen ecosystems across diverse national contexts.
Focusing on three distinct country cases—Kenya, South Africa, and South Korea—each study addresses unique aspects of green hydrogen development in relation to national policy priorities, stakeholder dynamics, and energy transition needs.- The Kenya study analyzes a nascent green hydrogen ecosystem by identifying stakeholder interests, institutional roles, and coordination challenges. It highlights gaps in governance, technical capacity, and resource alignment, and proposes strategies for building a more robust and inclusive hydrogen industry.-The South Africa study examines the entire hydrogen value chain—from production and storage to transport and utilization—by mapping stakeholder interactions among government agencies, SOEs, private firms, and research institutions. It uncovers collaboration patterns, bottlenecks, and opportunities for policy alignment and public-private partnership.-The South Korea study investigates the structure and evolution of hydrogen R&D networks, focusing on government-funded national R&D programs. Through social network analysis (SNA), it explores co-authorship ties, institutional collaborations, and project linkages to evaluate how research networks support technological development and commercialization, and how they might be restructured to further advance the hydrogen economy.
Together, these studies offer multi-dimensional insights into stakeholder engagement, policy coordination, and institutional readiness for hydrogen development in different national contexts.
- Understanding Policy Windows for Solar PV Lifecycle Extension: Policymakers’ Perspectives in Developing Asia
- This study explores how policymakers in developing Asian countries perceive the reuse of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules as part of a circular economy approach. Motivated by the rapid growth of solar installations and the mounting PV waste, the research investigates the policy conditions under which extending the lifecycle of PV modules gains traction. By applying Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework (MSF), the study identifies key drivers—such as waste management priorities, energy access goals, and political context—influencing policy windows for reuse adoption. A survey of energy policymakers across eight countries offers insights into the interplay among these factors. Methodologically, the study employs a combination of structural equation modeling (to validate latent constructs) and logistic regression (to assess policy support) to map policymakers’ attitudes and evaluate the feasibility of second-life PV implementations. The findings underscore the practical need for robust testing standards, liability frameworks, and targeted institutional support to bolster trust in reused modules. Ultimately, this research contributes to sustainable energy transition strategies by highlighting how policy design can balance urgent electrification needs with the environmental imperative to reduce solar PV waste, thereby offering actionable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and international donors alike.
- Competitiveness Analysis of Energy Transition Technologies
- Recent studies in the field of energy transition technology competitiveness focus on evaluating national capabilities beyond technological performance, incorporating policy frameworks, infrastructure, and market environments. Research on the hydrogen industry and battery energy storage systems (BESS) highlights the importance of expert-based models and indicator-driven analysis. These studies commonly use multi-criteria evaluation methods, such as AHP, to assess the competitiveness or market attractiveness of energy technologies across countries. Especially in emerging economies, factors like policy readiness, renewable energy potential, and international collaboration play a vital role in determining competitiveness. Such evaluations provide valuable insights for strategic planning and help prioritize areas for policy and industry development.
- Climate Budget Assessment
- This project seeks to develop a strategic approach to assessing climate-related public budgets through Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodologies. As climate change intensifies, governments face increasing pressure to align fiscal policies with emission reduction goals. This project aims to support that alignment by providing a structured framework for evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness of climate budgeting decisions.
Rather than focusing on individual projects, the initiative addresses the broader question of how climate budgets can be prioritized across sectors and policy areas. By incorporating multiple evaluation criteria and stakeholder perspectives, it offers a systematic method to identify which investments contribute most effectively to national climate goals. The ultimate objective is to improve climate policy coherence, promote sustainable public finance, and inform data-driven decision-making in climate governance.
- Exploring Sustainability Transitions and the Hydrogen Economy: An Integrated Discourse Approach
- The research investigates how hydrogen-related discourses in South Korea have formed, evolved, and disseminated between 1985 and 2024.
Using a mixed-methods framework, it integrates Dynamic Topic Modeling (DTM), co-occurrence network analysis, Discourse Network Analysis, and Discourse Analysis.
To enhance the precision of identifying energy-policy content, Large Language Models (LLMs) are employed to refine vast parliamentary records and news articles.
Through this process, key actors—government, industry, and civil society—are identified, along with their evolving stances, illustrating hydrogen’s transition from a niche energy diversification option to a central decarbonization strategy.
Both cooperative and conflicting dynamics are traced, particularly in the context of carbon lock-in, offering insights into the convergence of policy, infrastructure, and stakeholder debates.
Finally, the research suggests strategies for embedding hydrogen within sustainable energy systems, emphasizing the need for multi-actor governance and robust, long-term institutional frameworks.
- Readiness Level Assessment for Evaluating Hydrogen Technology Maturity
- The study introduces the Balanced Readiness Level Assessment (BRLa) as a comprehensive framework for evaluating the maturity of emerging technologies like green hydrogen. While traditional approaches have focused primarily on technical readiness, BRLa expands the evaluation to include five critical dimensions: TRL (Technology Readiness Level), MRL (Market Readiness Level), RRL (Regulatory Readiness Level), ORL (Organizational Readiness Level), and ARL (Acceptance Readiness Level). Through a Delphi-based expert survey process, the study assesses each dimension to identify not only technological challenges but also institutional, market, and societal barriers to commercialization. The results offer strategic insights for enhancing the readiness and deployment of hydrogen technologies, supporting more integrated policy design and accelerating progress toward national energy transition and decarbonization goals.
- A Strategy for Green Hydrogen Industry Development towards Balanced National Growth: Focusing on Manufacturing Development and Nuclear Hydrogen Production
- The Korea–Slovakia Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP) supports Slovakia’s transition to a green hydrogen economy. This project explores strategic pathways for developing a hydrogen industry ecosystem tailored to Slovakia’s manufacturing capabilities, leveraging Korea’s experience in cluster-based hydrogen development. It also assesses the feasibility of nuclear-powered hydrogen production by utilizing Slovakia’s existing infrastructure. The research aims to identify practical models for cooperation in clean energy, policy design, and industrial deployment. Through evidence-based recommendations and stakeholder engagement, the project seeks to promote sustainable, balanced national growth and strengthen bilateral innovation in the hydrogen sector.
- Knowledge Sharing Program Project for South Africa’s Green Hydrogen Strategy
- The project aims to establish a foundation for policy, technological, and industrial cooperation to support the development of a green hydrogen ecosystem in the Republic of South Africa. It analyzes South Korea’s hydrogen economy—including legal and policy frameworks, infrastructure development experience, and industrial strategies—with the objective of generating context-specific policy recommendations and designing a structured model for bilateral collaboration. Drawing on Korea’s Hydrogen Economy Promotion and Hydrogen Safety Management Act, the project proposes strategic policy directions to enhance South Africa’s hydrogen governance and institutional landscape. It further examines the country’s regulatory environment, stakeholder dynamics, and incentive mechanisms. Utilizing Korea’s experience in industrial cluster development, hydrogen infrastructure, and mobility deployment, the project formulates investment attraction strategies through global value chain (GVC) analysis. To support power sector decarbonization, it explores energy transition pathways such as coal-fired power plant refurbishment, deployment of distributed energy resources, and the integration of green hydrogen into the electricity grid. Additionally, the project investigates ESG-aligned strategies for mineral resource development and industrial decarbonization models, including joint intellectual property development between Korea and South Africa. Capacity-building programs for policymakers, bilateral business seminars, and long-term forecasting of hydrogen bunkering demand are also incorporated to strengthen institutional readiness for the global transition in maritime fuels.
- Green Mobility Readiness in Southeast Asia: Focus on EV Infrastructure
- The research explores the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure landscape in four Southeast Asian countries—Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines—where the transport sector is a major contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In response to this challenge, the research emphasizes the need for a transition to green mobility through the development of stable and scalable EV charging networks. Adopting a macro-level, ecosystem-based approach, the research analyzes stakeholder dynamics, value chains, and market maturity within each country’s EV infrastructure sector. Utilizing a hypothetic-deductive framework, it identifies key ecosystem components and evaluates their development stages to inform strategic planning and policy design.
- Strengthening Sustainable Development Benefits of International Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Projects
- This study investigates the extent to which international greenhouse gas mitigation projects contribute to sustainable development in host countries, with a particular focus on selected ASEAN member states. It critically examines the divergence between the anticipated sustainable development benefits articulated at the design stage of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects and the actual outcomes observed during implementation. The aim is to derive implications for enhancing the operationalization of Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.
To this end, the study adopts a mixed-methods approach, integrating ex-ante assessments based on Project Design Documents (PDDs) with ex-post evaluations derived from expert surveys conducted in host countries. A comprehensive evaluation framework was developed, comprising 42 indicators across four key dimensions: environmental, social, economic, and technological. The framework was applied to mitigation projects in seven ASEAN countries, with statistical analyses conducted using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests to ensure robustness.
Drawing on these insights, the study presents a set of policy and implementation recommendations aimed at enhancing the sustainable development outcomes of international mitigation activities implemented under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
- Assessing the Potential of Green Hydrogen Exporting Countries to Korea: Focus on ASEAN Countries
- Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a pivotal climate technology capable of addressing the structural challenges posed by fossil fuel-dependent energy systems and industrial processes. In alignment with this global transition, the Republic of Korea formulates strategic policies to lead the development of a clean hydrogen economy through the establishment of a full-cycle hydrogen ecosystem. The project identifies and evaluates prospective international partners for securing Korea’s hydrogen supply chain, with a particular focus on ASEAN member states. A multi-criteria analytical framework is applied, encompassing: (1) the estimation of exportable green hydrogen volumes based on renewable energy potential available for hydrogen production after accounting for domestic electricity demand; (2) the calculation of the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) to assess production cost-competitiveness; and (3) the assessment of maritime transport costs to South Korea. By synthesizing these dimensions, the project provides a comprehensive evaluation of each country’s potential as a green hydrogen exporter and derives policy implications for enhancing Korea’s international cooperation strategies and securing long-term hydrogen supply resilience.
- Policy Development for PV Panel Manufacturing Industry and Energy Storage System Utilization Plan in Uzbekistan
- The project addresses Uzbekistan’s energy transition challenges as it balances rising energy demand with carbon reduction goals. Traditionally reliant on natural gas and petrochemicals, the country is now shifting toward renewable energy development, particularly solar power, amid broader economic liberalization and regional cooperation. In response to these trends, the KU-KMAC consortium, in cooperation with Uzeltexanot and the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, conducted a comprehensive study based on local recommendations and partnerships with experts familiar with Uzbekistan’s institutional and industrial context. The project focuses on three key areas: (1) analyzing the value chain of Uzbekistan’s photovoltaic industry and proposing policy measures for its revitalization; (2) developing a strategic roadmap for the introduction and utilization of energy storage systems (ESS) to stabilize the national power grid; and (3) delivering capacity-building programs tailored for energy policymakers in Uzbekistan.