KOEN Develops Korea's First Power Plant Waste Heat Water Desalination Technology

Leading the Way in Addressing Regional Water Shortages

Korea South-East Power Company (KOEN) is launching the development of the nation's first seawater desalination technology utilizing power plant waste heat, in collaboration with industry, academia, research institutes, and public organizations including Kookmin University, to address water scarcity risks caused by the climate crisis.

Schematic Diagram of Seawater Desalination Facility Utilizing Power Plant Waste Heat.

KOEN was recently selected as the final implementing agency for the 'National Emergency Research for Public Stability' project, overseen by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. As a result, KOEN will officially commence the 'Development and Demonstration of Seawater Desalination Technology for Drought Response' project.

This initiative was established as a proactive measure against the increasingly severe climate crisis, exemplified by the declaration of a 'National Drought Disaster Emergency' in the Gangneung area in August 2025.

The core of this technology development is the use of waste heat water discharged during power generation as feedwater for desalination. Unlike conventional seawater desalination methods, directly reusing high-temperature waste heat water lowers water viscosity and improves membrane permeability, thereby enhancing process efficiency. Through this, KOEN plans to realize a 'low-cost, high-efficiency' desalination model with energy efficiency improved by 10% compared to existing desalination methods.

In particular, this system is designed to flexibly utilize not only the power plant's waste heat water but also other available water sources such as nearby surface water as feedwater, depending on the situation. This enables stable, year-round water production regardless of external environmental or seasonal factors.

Furthermore, this technology serves as a 'locally-produced and locally-consumed seawater desalination' model that aligns water production sites with areas of demand, reducing pipeline construction costs and serving as an alternative water supply source in the drought-prone Gangneung region, thereby contributing to strengthening local water security.

Additionally, by converting the heat energy of waste heat water that would have been discharged into the sea into a resource, this approach aims to reduce the impact on the marine ecosystem, contribute to carbon emission reduction and energy-saving policies, and lead ESG management and resource circulation initiatives as a public institution.

A KOEN official stated, "Through the execution of this national project, we aim to present a mutually beneficial model that utilizes power plant waste heat water as a resource to solve chronic drought issues in the local community," adding, "We will continue to fulfill our primary mission of providing stable power supply, while also working together with the community to overcome the climate crisis and implement energy efficiency policies."

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