CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF ENERTOPIA BY KOREA

Conventional literature argues that the competitiveness of new energy technologies is dependent on existing market conditions. Moreover, con temporary analyses have suggested that enhanced, energy-related resear ch and development activities alone an insufficient to ensure a sustai nable future. Korea's energy policies, meanwhile, have given top prior ity to research and development of new energy technologies. Given the aforementioned approaches, the Korean government has adopted ''diffusi on-oriented'' policies that encourage technology transfer, internation al alliances, and the dissemination of information to supplement resea rch and development. In addition, it has adopted the policy that marke t barriers can be overcome in part by direct government involvement in the energy marketplace, under the premise of promoting the public goo d. The present paper analyzes Korea's national energy strategy, descri bes the potential contributions of new energy technologies, and provid es an overview of Enertopia, a major demonstration project being spons ored by the central government to test the viability of the sustainabl e development concept.