A deserted salt evaporation pond in southern part of South Korea has turned into the nation’s largest-ever solar energy farm that can generate up to 139GWh electricity per year.

The new solar power generation facilities built on a site of about 1 million square meters, equivalent to 100 soccer fields, is a landmark project to support the government’s Green New Deal initiative designed to change the fundamental mechanism of the coal-centered traditional industry into renewable energy-centered.

State utility firm Korea Midland Power said on Tuesday it held a ceremony to mark the completion of the Gwangbaek Solar Power Plant Complex in Yeonggwang County, Jeonnam Province. The solar energy farm whose construction began about 18 months ago was a 400 billion won ($362 million) investment project co-led by Korea Midland Power, Eco Network, Daehan Green Energy and Kyobo Axa Asset Managers. Daehan Green Energy and Hanwha Energy were responsible for the construction of solar power and ESS facilities.

The solar energy farm is equipped with 100㎿ power generating facilities and 312MWh energy storage facilities to meet power demand from 62,000 households each year. More than 95 percent of construction materials were sourced domestically, with all solar power modules, structures and batteries used for the farm were manufactured by local companies.

By Baek Sang-kyung and Minu Kim

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]