Construction has begun on Korea’s largest floating solar power facility, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) has announced, The groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 24 for the Imha Dam’s Floating Photovoltaic Energy Cluster Project at the Independence Movement Memorial Hall in Andong, attended by around 100 people, including locals and key figures such as Sang-jo Yoon, Head of KHNP Green Energy Business Division, K-water CEO Seog-dae Yun, and Andong-si Mayor Gi-chang Kwon.

The project aims to maintain a zero-accident record and achieve commercial development. With a capacity of 47MW, it will be the largest floating solar facility on a multipurpose dam in Korea. The facility’s design will feature elements resembling the Korean flag and the Mugunghwa, Korea’s national flower, to blend with the environment.

Andong-si is participating as the execution organization, with KHNP and K-water as co-developers and Top Solar as the constructor. The project includes a benefit-sharing model, allowing around 4500 local residents within a 1 km radius to invest and share in the profits.

Imha Dam’s floating solar project was designated as Korea’s first new renewable energy cluster in December 2021. According to Article 27 of the Act on the Promotion of the Development, Use, and Diffusion of New and Renewable Energy, an “energy cluster” is an area designated to build and operate an eco-friendly, renewable power plant with a minimum generation capacity of 40MW. Sang-jo Yoon stated: “We expect the Imha Dam’s Floating Photovoltaic Power Project to play a crucial role in achieving Korea’s carbon neutrality. We will cooperate closely with the national government, regional governments, K-water, and locals for the project’s success