Warning of Power Shortages: 208 Aging Wind Turbines by 2030, Only 28 Repowered

With the anticipated surge in power demand driven by the expansion of AI data centers and the semiconductor industry, the importance of utilizing existing power resources is increasing. However, while there are over 200 onshore wind turbines in operation for more than 20 years by 2030, only 28 turbines have been repowered with high-efficiency equipment. Repowering could potentially triple the output of existing sites, but complex permitting processes and financial burdens are hindering project expansion.

According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, there are a total of 816 onshore wind turbines in South Korea, with a capacity of 2.1 GW. As of this year, 80 turbines (126 MW) have been in operation for over 20 years, and this number is expected to rise to 208 turbines (355 MW) by 2030.

Considering that the typical design lifespan of wind turbines is about 20 years, the time for large-scale replacements is approaching. Safety concerns have also grown following incidents in February when a turbine toppled at the Yeongdeok Wind Power Complex, and a fire and casualties occurred during maintenance in March.

In the challenging domestic environment where securing new sites is difficult, repowering is emerging as an alternative. It can reduce installation costs per capacity by about 5% compared to developing new sites, while doubling the average capacity and tripling the output. This is why expanding repowering is deemed essential to achieve the government's goal of 6 GW of onshore wind power by 2030.

However, only three projects in South Korea have completed or are in the process of repowering: Jeju Haengwon Wind Power, Gangwon Wind Power, and Yeongdeok Wind Power. The total number of repowered turbines stands at just 28 (48.57 MW).

According to the Korea Electric Power Corporation Management Research Institute, Jeju Haengwon Wind Power, the country's first commercial wind farm, dismantled three existing turbines (2.07 MW) and installed one 3 MW turbine. Following this, the issuance of renewable energy certificates (RECs) became possible, resulting in a revenue increase of approximately 2.6 times.

Repowering projects in South Korea typically take an average of five years, longer than the one to three years seen in major countries like the U.S., Germany, and China. If the capacity is increased by more than 10% or core components are replaced, a new power generation business permit is required. Expanding the project area or changing turbine locations necessitates undergoing environmental impact assessments and development permits again. There are also no established criteria for transferring connection rights for existing contract capacities, meaning that increasing capacity triggers the same grid connection procedures as new projects.

To alleviate these burdens, the government announced a plan in June to strengthen comprehensive management of onshore wind power and has begun streamlining the permitting process. Repowering projects conducted within areas where environmental impact assessments have already been completed will be exempt from small-scale environmental impact assessments, and support will be provided for projects that expand their areas. Starting in 2027, the support ratio for repowering in renewable energy financial assistance programs will be increased by five percentage points compared to the previous level.

A ministry official stated, "We are closely supporting the remaining permitting processes while reviewing system improvements," adding that regulations related to flexible connections are being prepared for implementation in the fourth quarter of this year.