SK Ecoplant Completes First SOFC Heat-Supply Power Plant

View of Bukpyeong Leisure Sports Center Fuel Cell Power Plant.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] SK Ecoplant announced on the 9th that it has completed the 4.2MW-scale "Bukpyeong Sports Center Fuel Cell Power Plant" commissioned by Korea East-West Power Co., Ltd.

Located near Bukpyeong Sports Center in Donghae-si, Gangwon Province, this power plant is the world's first heat supply-type power plant using solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). It is equipped with a heat recovery module developed by SK Ecoplant, enabling simultaneous supply of electricity and heat.

This fuel cell power plant is expected to produce approximately 36,800 MWh of electricity annually, enough to supply about 14,000 households per year. The heat generated from the fuel cells will be used for heating and hot water supply at the Bukpyeong Sports Center swimming pool, which is scheduled to open in the first half of next year. Donghae-si will receive about 4,204 Gcal of heat annually, resulting in an estimated energy cost saving of around 200 million KRW per year. Additionally, by supplying hot water through the fuel cell array instead of fossil fuels, it is expected to achieve a carbon reduction effect equivalent to planting approximately 6.58 million pine trees, reducing about 770 tons of carbon.

This project is significant in that SK Ecoplant maximized energy efficiency by independently developing the first heat recovery system utilizing the basic characteristics of SOFCs operating at high temperatures and applying it to heating and other uses. Until now, the heat generated after power production was discarded, but through the development of this heat recovery module, it is now possible to supply additional heat while maintaining the world's highest level of existing power generation efficiency.

Park Kyung-il, CEO of SK Ecoplant, said, "By establishing a strong value chain across all areas of fuel cells, SK Ecoplant is emerging as the strongest fuel cell leader in Korea," adding, "We will secure the hydrogen market as a multi-player in the hydrogen ecosystem through domestic green hydrogen production demonstration, overseas green hydrogen production, and domestic introduction."

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