Haenam County in South Jeolla Province is officially launching the construction of South Korea's largest solar power facility, with a capacity of 400 megawatts (MW). This project is set to position the region as a key player in the country's renewable energy sector.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on August 7 at the Byeoldo reclamation site, attended by over 250 people, including Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Seong-hwan, Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Deputy Mayor Hwang Gi-yeon, Haenam County Mayor Myung Hyun-gwan, National Assembly member Park Ji-won, local residents, and representatives from Korea Southern Power.
The project will cover 4.79 million square meters in the agricultural reclamation areas of Munnae-myeon and Hwangsan-myeon, with a total investment of 680.7 billion won. It will also include the country's largest 10MW agricultural solar power system. Construction is expected to take two years, with completion slated for 2028, followed by 20 years of commercial operation.
Significantly, this groundbreaking marks the resolution of long-standing regulatory hurdles that had stalled the project since it received approval in 2019. Despite being located on low-productivity reclaimed land, the site was classified as an agricultural development area, complicating the installation of large-scale solar facilities.
In response, Haenam County collaborated with Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City and Korea Southern Power to advocate for the removal of agricultural development area restrictions and the necessity of advancing the solar project. This effort culminated in the inclusion of the project in the agenda of a key regulatory reform meeting chaired by the President last October, leading to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs granting the necessary approvals in November.
With the project now underway, Haenam County's strategy to establish itself as a center for renewable energy and future industries is gaining momentum. Notably, the renewable energy produced in Haenam will support the RE100 initiative of SK Hynix, a leading semiconductor company. The electricity generated will be supplied directly to SK Hynix through a power purchase agreement.
This initiative not only aids the company in achieving its RE100 goals but also enhances Haenam's position as a supplier of renewable energy for advanced industries. Furthermore, all major equipment for the solar power facility will be sourced from domestic manufacturers, contributing to the revitalization of the local solar industry and its ecosystem.
A model for shared benefits will also be implemented, allowing residents of Munnae-myeon and Hwangsan-myeon to receive development funds and share in the profits generated over the 20-year operational period. Various support initiatives for local residents, including infrastructure development, welfare projects for vulnerable groups, and scholarship programs, will also be pursued.
Haenam County is rapidly expanding its foundation for future industries by linking renewable energy with advanced sectors, following the recent groundbreaking of the National AI Computing Center and the initiation of this large-scale solar power project. With abundant sunlight and a robust renewable energy production base, the region is expected to attract energy-intensive advanced companies, including RE100 firms and data centers.
Deputy Mayor Hwang Gi-yeon stated, “This project exemplifies how local governments can lead the way in breaking down regulatory barriers to establish large-scale renewable energy facilities. The integrated special city will work to ensure that semiconductor mega-clusters and data centers are successfully established in the region, leveraging our abundant renewable energy resources.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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