Gunsan power station
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| This article is part of the Global Bioenergy Power Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
Gunsan power station (군산발전본부는, 군산발전소, 한화에너지(주) 군산공장) is an operating power station of at least 222-megawatts (MW) in Gunsan, Soryong, North Jeolla, South Korea. It is also known as Gunsan Plant (Hanhwa), Gunsan Cogeneration power station, Gunsan Hanwha power station.
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)[1] |
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 | CHP | Start year | Retired year | Emergency/Backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomass 1 | Announced[2] | bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids)[2] | 123[3] | – | yes[2] | 2026 (planned)[3] | – | no |
| Biomass 2 | Announced[2][4] | bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids)[2][4][5] | 99[5] | – | yes[2] | – | – | no |
| Unit 1 | Operating | coal: bituminous, bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids)[6] | 123 | subcritical | yes[2] | 2011 | 2026 (planned)[4] | no |
| Unit 2 | Operating | coal: bituminous, bioenergy: wood & other biomass (solids)[2][6] | 99 | subcritical | yes[2] | 2019 | – | no |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Biomass 1 | Hanwha Energy Corp [100%][5] | natural person(s) [80.0%]; unknown [20.0%] |
| Biomass 2 | Hanwha Energy Corp [100%][5] | natural person(s) [80.0%]; unknown [20.0%] |
| Unit 1 | Hanwha Energy Corp [100%][5] | natural person(s) [80.0%]; unknown [20.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Hanwha Energy Corp [100%][5] | natural person(s) [80.0%]; unknown [20.0%] |
Unit-level fuel conversion details:
Unit 1: Announced conversion from coal to bioenergy in 2026.
Unit 2: Announced conversion from coal to bioenergy in .
Project-level captive use details
- Captive industry use (heat or power): both
- Captive industry: Machinery
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): imported
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
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.[7]
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.[8][9][10]
Biomass
The Gunsan plant had reportedly been mixing and burning biomass (wood pellets) with bituminous coal since 2018.[11] 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.[12] As of November 2023, no further news of the potential conversion was available.
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.[13]
As of September 2025, Hanwha Energy was reportedly still planning to convert the Gunsan power station to biomass in late 2026.[14] At the time, it was unclear whether conversions were planned for one or both units.
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.[15]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ maps.app.goo.gl https://web.archive.org/web/20260507000753/https://www.google.co.jp/maps/place/%ED%95%9C%ED%99%94%EC%97%90%EB%84%88%EC%A7%80(%EC%A3%BC)+%EA%B5%B0%EC%82%B0%EA%B3%B5%EC%9E%A5/@35.9544903,126.5335511,880m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x3570f9e3e970186b:0xebefa245982f8081!8m2!3d35.9543892!4d126.5381948!16s%2Fg%2F1tct_b1w?entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOS4wIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D&skid=66ffa6c7-a167-477d-bd1a-43ceaa3a99f2. Archived from the original on 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 https://web.archive.org/web/20260507000946/https://www.hanwha-energy.com/en/business/energy. Archived from the original on 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20260507001014/https://pulse.mk.co.kr/news/english/11097542. Archived from the original on 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.bioenergy-news.com/news/hanwha-energy-corp-plans-chp-conversion-from-coal-to-biomass/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20260507000613/https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news-and-insights/latest-market-news/2716101-korea-s-hanwha-power-plant-to-fire-100pc-biomass. Archived from the original on 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.gem.wiki/Coal_source_methodology_for_the_Global_Coal_Plant_Tracker.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "Financing Dirty Energy: How Korean Public Financial Institutions Support Coal Power". Solutions for Our Climate. January 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Hanwha Gunsan Cogeneration Plant," Sumitomo SHI FW, accessed December 2018
- ↑ "Business: Cogeneration," Hanwha Group, accessed January 2018
- ↑ "Gunsan Plant," Hanwha, accessed November 2021
- ↑ "한화에너지, 열병합발전으로 늘어난 온실가스 태양광발전으로 상쇄," Daily E News, January 13, 2021
- ↑ [바이오매스의 두 얼굴③ "태워서 발전" "MDF 만들어야" 목재 두고 집안 싸움, 이럴 일인가] Daum, July 8, 2023
- ↑ Hanwha Energy Corp plans CHP conversion from coal to biomass, Bioenergy Insight, August 22, 2024
- ↑ “(단독) 폐지 예정 석탄 발전소, 바이오매스로 퇴로 열어주나…특급 인센티브 예고,” MTN, September 23, 2025
- ↑ "군산항 활성화를 위해 ‘우드펠릿’ 유치해야," Domin, August 16, 2021
Additional data
To access additional data, including interactive maps of the power stations, downloadable datasets, and summary data, please visit the Global Bioenergy Power Tracker and the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
