South Korea is planning the world’s largest tidal energy plant as part of its commitment to increase the share of renewable energy from 1.4 – 5% by 2011.
The Sihwa Tidal Power Plant, to be completed by 2009, would generate 260 megawatts (MW) from the energy created from the flow of water in and out of a seaside bay.
The total project cost is approximately US$250 million. It will consist of a powerhouse for 10 ‘bulb-type’ turbines with direct driven generators including gates and other equipment. Each turbine and generator will have an output of 26 MW (total 260 MW installed capacity).
The plant is designed to be operated in one direction from the sea to the Sihwa Lake, allowing up to 60 billion tons of seawater to be circulated annually. In doing so the plant will generate power by using the head between the high tide and the reservoir level, while improving the water quality of Sihwa Lake.
The Korea Water Resources Corporation (KOWACO), the governmental water authority, is acting as project developer/ owner. Daewoo Engineering & Construction, as the civil leader, is the project’s main contractor.
Daewoo has awarded VA Tech Hydro a US$94 million contract to engineer and supply the main electro-mechanical components for the Sihwa tidal power plant in South Korea.
In addition to generating power, the existing water quality of the Sihwa Lake will be significantly improved. Because industrial facilities remove process water from the lake and release waste water into it, pollution has become an increasing problem. The investment needed to resolve the problem – regularly flushing the Sihwa Lake with sea water – became financially feasible when combined with energy production of a tidal power plant.
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