Ministry of Environment to Expedite Early Construction of 147.4MW Floating Solar Power Including Hapcheon Dam

Panoramic view of Hapcheon Dam.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 18th that it will promote the early commencement of floating solar power projects totaling 147.4MW across 8 projects at 5 dams?Hapcheon, Gunwi, Chungju, Soyanggang, and Imha?over the next three years to expand the use of eco-friendly renewable energy.

First, within this year, floating solar power projects totaling 45.4MW will be completed early at three dams: Hapcheon Dam (40MW), Chungju Dam (2.4MW), and Gunwi Dam (3MW).

By 2022, the Soyanggang Dam (8MW) project will be completed, and in 2023, projects totaling 94MW will be completed at Imha Dam (45MW), Chungju Dam (20MW), Soyanggang Dam (9MW), and Hapcheon Dam (20MW).

In particular, this floating solar power project is being promoted as a model of a 'resident participation' project that enhances acceptance among residents around the dams and fosters coexistence with local communities. The Hapcheon Dam floating solar power project (40MW, 83.5 billion KRW), which began construction in August last year and is scheduled for completion in December this year, is designed to allow local residents to participate in investment and receive fixed returns of 4 to 10% annually over 20 years relative to their investment, making it a representative exemplary case that has increased local residents' acceptance.

Kim Dong-jin, Director of the Water Resources Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "Floating solar power within dams is being constructed and managed safely without environmental damage through thorough verification," adding, "We plan to continuously expand floating solar power projects through technological development and institutional improvements based on environmental safety to serve as a strong pillar for achieving carbon neutrality."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.