A 30MW demonstration offshore wind farm will be completed next year and will mark the first stage in implementation of a carbon-free energy strategy being pursued by South Korea’s self-governing Jeju Island.
Jeju has a 2016 target of 380MW in offshore wind installed capacity. The island is home to some of South Korea’s most substantial offshore wind resources. It lies off the country’s south coast and enjoys considerable political autonomy. By 2030, the island’s offshore wind installed capacity could reach 2GW.
A new company, Jeju Energy Corporation (JEC), has been established to help the island reach its target of being wholly self-sufficient in energy generation from renewable sources by 2030. Renewables currently account for about 7% of Jeju’s energy consumption.
JEC is solely funded by Jeju Island Self Governing Province. Since its creation in July the company has announced its intention to support the island’s nascent offshore wind industry. Existing offshore wind installed capacity consists of a 5MW testbed developed by the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER). This features a 2MW turbine built by STX and a 3MW Doosan turbine.
Three offshore wind parks are currently planned, with the first a 30MW project being developed by Tamra Offshore Wind Power Company and due for completion next year. Korean utility Posco Power and Doosan are major shareholders in Tamra.
The other two are the 150MW Hallim project, being developed by Korea Electric Power Corporation Engineering and Construction (KEPCO E&C) and Daelim, and the 200MW Dae Jeoung project, being pursued by Korea Southern Power (KOSPO) and Samsung Heavy Industries.
“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Offshore understands that Jeju’s offshore wind ambitions would represent additional capacity to that already planned by the South Korean government.
JEC will manage all offshore wind capacity developed in Jeju waters, apart from Tamra’s 30MW project and the 5MW testbed developed by KIER, which will eventually be dismantled. Any surplus offshore wind-generated electricity will be exported to the Korean mainland, however, it is not yet clear how much excess there will be.
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