Gunsan power station

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Gunsan power station (군산발전본부는, 군산발전소) is an operating power station of at least 222-megawatts (MW) in Gunsan, Soryong, North Jeolla, South Korea. It is also known as Gunsan Hanwha power station, Gunsan Cogeneration power station, 전기생산능력.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Gunsan power station Gunsan, Soryong, Gunsan, North Jeolla, South Korea 35.954486, 126.536126 (exact)

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

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Unit 1, Unit 2: 35.954486, 126.536126

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year
Unit 1 operating coal: bituminous, bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids) 123 subcritical 2011
Unit 2 operating coal: bituminous, bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids) 99 CFB 2019

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner Parent
Unit 1 Hanwha Energy Corp [100%] Hanwha Corp
Unit 2 Hanwha Energy Corp [100%] Hanwha Corp

Project-level captive use details

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


Financing

  • Source of financing: US$54,859,197 in debt from the National Pension Service; US$328,278,008 in debt from Korea Development Bank; US$4,571,921 in debt from Nonghyup Bank; US$45,719,213 in debt from Korea Post

Financing for Unit 2

The National Pension Service provided financing through a bond for US$54,859,197. Korea Development Bank provided financing through a bond for US$82,298,108 and through a loan for US$245,979,900. Nonghyup Bank provided a loan for US$4,571,921. Korea Post provided financing through a bond for US$45,719,213.[1]

Background

The first 123 MW unit of Gunsan power station was commissioned in 2011. It is located in Gunsan, Soryong, and is owned by Hanwha Group. An additional 99 MW unit was commissioned in 2019. According to Hanwha Energy's website, the combined heat and power (CHP) plant is contributing to the enhancement of competitiveness of the Gunsan 2nd National Industrial Complex by stably supplying good quality steam and electricity at low prices.[2][3][4]

The Gunsan plant has reportedly been mixing and burning biomass (wood pellets) with bituminous coal since 2018.[5] In July 2023, a news article reported that the station's owners were considering a switch to 100% biomass (wood pellets) combustion at the power station.[6] As of November 2023, no further news of the potential conversion was available.

Planned conversion of Unit 1

News in August 2024 reported that Hanwha Energy Corp planned to fully convert Unit 1 from coal to biomass-fueled by the end of 2026.[7]

Background on area

There are three cogeneration plants in operation in Gunsan: SGC Energy (SGC에너지), OCISE, and Hanwha Energy (한화에너지). An August 2021 article promoted converting the coal plants near the Gunsan Port to burn domestic biomass instead of coal.[8]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. "Financing Dirty Energy: How Korean Public Financial Institutions Support Coal Power". Solutions for Our Climate. January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Hanwha Gunsan Cogeneration Plant," Sumitomo SHI FW, accessed December 2018
  3. "Business: Cogeneration," Hanwha Group, accessed January 2018
  4. "Gunsan Plant," Hanwha, accessed November 2021
  5. "한화에너지, 열병합발전으로 늘어난 온실가스 태양광발전으로 상쇄," Daily E News, January 13, 2021
  6. [바이오매스의 두 얼굴③ "태워서 발전" "MDF 만들어야" 목재 두고 집안 싸움, 이럴 일인가] Daum, July 8, 2023
  7. Hanwha Energy Corp plans CHP conversion from coal to biomass, Bioenergy Insight, August 22, 2024
  8. "군산항 활성화를 위해 ‘우드펠릿’ 유치해야," Domin, August 16, 2021

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.