Gumi CHP power station

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Gumi CHP power station (구미열병합) is an operating power station of at least 86-megawatts (MW) in Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang, South Korea. It is also known as 구미열병합, Gumi Combined Heat and Power Plant.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Gumi CHP power station Gumi-si, North Gyeongsang, South Korea 36.09714, 128.372004 (exact)

The map below shows the exact location of the power station.

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Unit 1: 36.09714, 128.372004

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year
Unit 1 operating coal: unknown, fossil liquids: fuel oil[1] 86 subcritical 1992

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner Parent
Unit 1 GS E&R Corp [100%] GS Holdings Corp

Project-level captive use details

  • Captive industry use (heat or power): both
  • Captive industry: Machinery


Background

The Gumi Combined Heat and Power (CHP) power station was commissioned in June 1992 by the government. It is one of the largest industrial complex cogeneration sites in Korea, supplying energy to dozens of industrial complex companies. It was established to reduce the cost of energy imports.[2]

The power station's capacity is uncertain. Its design capacity reportedly includes steam ("850 tons/hour") and electricity ("97,100 kW").[2] Some sources identify a power capacity of 85 to 86 MW,[3][4] while others referenced 97 MW.[5][6] Energy production may have fallen some to reduce emissions.[2]

In 2011, STX-owned cogeneration power plants – the Gumi CHP power station and Banwol CHP power station – had a combined capacity of 174 MW with a steam network spanning 140 kilometers and output of 1,975 tons per hour.[7]

The power station's fuel sources appear to be bituminous coal and BC oil.[2]

As of June 2021, to respond to carbon neutrality calls, GS E&R had allegedly set up a "facility replacement plan" to convert the power station to a fuel like LNG, but was struggling to implement the plan at its own expense.[8]

News in September 2023 reported that the power station continued to function as a coal-fired CHP plant, producing an annual average of 688 GWh of electricity.[9]

Possible conversion

In early 2024, it was reported that GS E&R had submitted a business plan to convert the Gumi GHP cogeneration plant (with a listed capacity of 98 MW) to a liquid natural gas (LNG) power station with a capacity of 500 MW.[10]

Accidents

October 2023: Fire broke out in coal storage room

In October 2023, several sources reported that a storage room fire had broken out at the power station.[11][12] No casualties were reported.

Ownership

The government power station was acquired by STX Energy in 2000. STX Energy was then acquired by GS Group in late 2013 and renamed to GS E&R in 2014.[6][13]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20240522211656/https://www.youtongnews.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=09_1&wr_id=330. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "시대의 역행 구미 화력발전소 건립, 구미열병합발전소는 더욱 심각<한국유통신문," Korea Trade News, July 2, 2017
  3. "화제의 기업최근 조직개편...STX를 주목하라," energy daily, undated
  4. "Gumi (Kumi) Coal CHP Station," Global Energy Observatory, last updated February 15, 2010
  5. "STX에너지 구미발전소 설비 준공," 취재부, October 26, 2004
  6. 6.0 6.1 "신재생 에너지 사업 선두주자 GSE& R 구미발전소," ktn1, February 20, 2019 [sic]
  7. "Energy, Synergy, Harmony" Report, STX Energy, 2011
  8. "대부분 석탄과 벙커C유 사용…청정연료 전환시 정책자금 지원 필요," electimes, June 10, 2021
  9. (에너지산업) GS E&R, 반월·구미 등에 안정적 열 공급, 경제성장 뒷받침, Electimes, Sept. 22, 2023
  10. 3GW 넘는 열병합 신·증설 놓고 '설왕설래', KIE, January 3, 2024
  11. 구미 열병합발전소 석탄저장고에서 작업 중이던 굴착기서 화재, 매일신문, Oct. 12, 2023
  12. 구미 열병합발전소서 석탄채굴하던 굴착기서 불…인명피해 없어, News1.kr, Oct. 12, 2023
  13. "GS Reshapes Energy Business through Acquisition of STX Energy," Business Korea, February 17, 2014

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.