The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE, Minister Kim Sungwhan) announced that it will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Haenam Renewable Energy Complex solar power project in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, on the afternoon of August 7.

Approximately 250 people, including Minister Kim Sungwhan, National Assembly Member Park Jiwon, Vice Mayor Goh Gwang-wan of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, Haenam-gun Governor Myeong Hyeon-gwan, Acting CEO Cho Yeong-hyeok of the Korea South-East Power, and local residents, will attend the groundbreaking ceremony.

This project is part of the expansion of renewable energy-centered power supply capacity, a key initiative presented by the MCEE in its report to the President on August 4. It will concretely implement the government’s principles for expanding renewable energy deployment by promoting the domestic solar power industry, lowering power generation costs, and expanding benefits for local residents, alongside the broader rollout of renewable energy.

The project will utilize approximately 4.79 million square meters of idle land, including reclaimed land affected by salinity, to build a 400 MW solar power complex by 2028, making it the largest solar power generation complex in Korea based on a single site and significantly expanding renewable energy deployment. Of the total capacity, 10 MW will be developed as agrivoltaics, providing a model case demonstrating the coexistence of renewable energy generation and agriculture.

In addition, the project is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of Korea’s domestic solar power industry by using locally manufactured key equipment, including modules, cells, and inverters, while also helping lower power generation costs by reducing project expenses through the use of large-scale idle land that has previously gone unused.

The power generation operator plans to establish a system for resident participation and benefit sharing, enabling local residents to participate in the project and share in its power generation revenues, with a total of KRW 150 billion in power generation profits to be returned to the local community in tangible benefits over the project period. In addition, the project is expected to contribute to local job creation and economic revitalization by expanding the participation of local businesses and residents throughout the design, procurement, construction, and maintenance processes.

After completion, the project is expected to supply 529 GWh of stable, carbon-free electricity annually to RE100 companies and industrial complexes*, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 130,000 households. This will strengthen the export competitiveness of businesses and contribute to attracting companies and driving regional growth in the “Solaseado AI Energy New Town” being developed by Jeollanam-do and Haenam-gun.

* Domestic advanced semiconductor manufacturers (SK hynix), the Solaseado AI Computing Center, etc.

Minister Kim Sungwhan said, “The Haenam solar power project marks a meaningful starting point for simultaneously expanding renewable energy, driving regional growth, and fostering Korea’s domestic solar power industry.” He added, “We will expand large-scale renewable energy deployment using idle land to lower power generation costs and create a renewable energy transition model in which local communities and industries grow together.”

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