Resident-Participatory Hapcheon Dam Floating Solar Power Generation Begins... Largest Scale in Korea

Facility Capacity 41㎿…Annual Maximum Usage Capacity of 60,000 People
Reduction Effect of 30 Tons of Fine Dust and 26,000 Tons of Greenhouse Gases

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The largest-scale floating solar power plant in Korea, Hapcheon Dam Floating Solar Power, began operation on the 24th.

Hapcheon Dam is the site that started the world's first commercialization of floating solar power within a dam in 2012, following a floating solar power demonstration study in 2011. The 41㎿ scale Hapcheon Dam Floating Solar Power is the largest in Korea, surpassing the 25㎿ scale Namjeong Floating Solar Power (located in Deugyang Bay, Goheung, Jeonnam), which was completed last August.

The 41㎿ generation capacity of Hapcheon Dam Floating Solar Power can supply 56,388㎿h of electricity annually. This amount is sufficient to cover the household electricity consumption of approximately 43,000 registered residents of Hapcheon County (based on the national average annual household usage as of October 2021) with surplus remaining. Up to 60,000 people can use it annually.

An official from the Ministry of Environment explained, "Since Hapcheon Dam Floating Solar Power supplies electricity through an eco-friendly renewable energy method, it can reduce 30 tons of fine dust and 26,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually, which are generated by coal-fired power plants. It is also important that residents participated in the development and share the profits, opening a new value for renewable energy projects."

Hapcheon Dam Floating Solar Power is the first domestic floating solar power project where about 1,400 residents from around 20 villages in Bongsan-myeon, near the dam, invested approximately 3.1 billion KRW through village communities and will receive a portion of the annual power generation profits.

Additionally, the equipment used in the floating solar power plant has been certified to meet the "Water Supply Material Hygiene Safety Standards," which are more than ten times stricter than drinking water quality standards. In particular, all core components such as cells and modules are products manufactured by domestic companies.

The form of the floating solar power plant was constructed in the shape of the plum blossom, a symbol of Hapcheon County, considering the dam’s waterfront scenery. The Ministry of Environment expects that the floating solar power plant will become a new tourist attraction along with Haeinsa Temple and help revitalize the local economy by linking with regional representative festivals such as the Hwangmaesan Festival.

Meanwhile, in March this year, the Ministry of Environment announced a goal in the Carbon Neutrality Implementation Plan to expand floating solar power within dams to 2.1GW by 2030. The exemplary case of Hapcheon Dam will be applied to floating solar power projects at other dams planned for development, and the ministry plans to proceed swiftly to achieve carbon neutrality.

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