Quick Project Glimpse
- Jeonnam 1 offshore wind project is the South Korea’s largest privately-run offshore wind farm.
- Featuring 30 turbines with a combined capacity of 96MW.
- To power to 90,000 homes annually
- Reduce 240,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.
- Located at 9 km off the coast of Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
- Is the result of cooperation between SK Innovation E&S (51%) and Denmark’s CIP (49%).
- Represents a significant step in South Korea’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Why Jeonnam 1 Offshore Wind Project Matters
Jeonnam Offshore Wind Farm 1 is the first offshore wind farm, officially started commercial operations on May 16, in a historic day for Asia’s renewable energy industry. South Korea’s area’s largest private sector offshore wind farm is located in waters about 9 kilometers off the coast of Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do.
This offshore farm featuring 10 jumbo wind turbines that can generate a total of 301 million kWh of electricity per year, will annually offer swathes of churned-up South Korean homes enough juice to fully power about 90,000 of them, the company says. The fixed-bottom offshore wind farm now serves an average of 913,000 kWh of electricity daily, and will reduce emissions of 240,000 tons of CO₂ per year — which is about the average emissions of an equivalent-sized coal-fired power plant.
The South Korea’s Offshore Wind Farm is not just a clean energy source – it is serving as a template for future renewable projects, technologies, innovations, and investments in the country. First, it is the country’s first large-scale, privately-operated offshore wind farm and sets a benchmark in non-recourse project financing where debt is based solely on future earnings. Second, the project is a strategic step in expanding South Korea’s offshore wind capacity that supports the country’s RE100 commitments, which state that corporations will commit to operating on 100% renewable electricity.
As a result, Korea’s first monopile has been installed, and a remarkable innovation here is the use of a monopile substructure, a first for Korea. These large tubular steel foundations will attach each 10MW-class wind turbine to the seabed, providing cost efficiency, rapid installation and stability in shallow water (10-20 meters deep).
In terms of economic impact, more than 70 local companies from Mokpo and Sinan regions contributed to the development of the project and 75% of the main equipment such as towers, substructures, cables were produced by local industry, presenting significantly South Korea’s offshore wind supply chain improvement. Following the economic sing, a profit-sharing program has been launched with the Sinan-gun community to ensure that local residents will enjoy from the success of the wind farm.
Looking Forward: Jeonam 2, Jeonam 3, and an 8.2 GW Vision
Building on the success of Jeonam Offshore Wind Farm 1, SK Innovation E&S and CIP are exciting to plan more wind farm, they already graphed two more wind farms named Jeonam 2, with the capacity of 399 MW, and Jeonam 3 of the equal capacity.
Total capacity: 900 MW – equivalent to a nuclear power plant, and by 2035, Jeolam-do and Sinan-gun aim to establish the world’s largest offshore wind complex, with a massive 8.2 GW of capacity. This long-term vision positions South Korea as a regional leader in renewable wind energy.
Project timeline
September 2017: Project approved for power generation
July 2022: Water surface use permit confirmed
March 2023: Construction officially begins
December 2024: All turbines installed
May 2025: Commercial operations begin
In the words of Offshore Wind Projects Shareholders
Choo Hyeong-wook, CEO of the Sk Innovation E&S said,
“jeonam Offshore Wind Farm 1” is a groundbreaking project that heralds a new chapter for South Korea’s offshore wind industry. We are committed to creating lasting value with the local community as well as advancing renewable energy globally.”
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Jesper Krarup Holst, COP Partner, Head of APAC and COO of the Jeonam 1, 2 and 3 portfolio, cited,
“CIP and SK Innovation E&S have provided unwavering support throughout, and we are incredibly proud to have completed this essential step towards full-scale clean power generation. Jeonam 1 is poised to play a meaningful role in South Korea’s renewable energy future and we look forward to the next stages, including commissioning and energization, as we prepare for the next phase.”
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Ryan Kolbeck, Senior Director at COP and EPC Director for the Jeonam 1 project, said,
“This milestone is testament to the planning, technical expertise and strong partnerships that have led Jeonam 1 from concept to reality. With installation complete, our focus is on ensuring the final stages of the project are completed with the same level of safety, quality and commitment. We are on track to deliver a world-class offshore wind asset that will benefit both the local community and Korea’s efforts to combat climate change.”
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About Jeonnam 1 Owners
One of the two shareholders is Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP), a global leader in the origination, development and construction of offshore wind projects. COP’s expert team is accelerating the energy transition by building a 50+ GW project portfolio across 18 offices in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. As an industry pioneer, the group is leading project development in new markets, including four projects recently completed or currently under construction – Changfang and Jidao and Zhong Neng in Taiwan, Vineyard Wind 1 in the US and Geonam 1 in Korea. COP also specializes in system integration capabilities, including Power-to-X. COP is a proudly independent company with management ownership.
Another shareholder is SK Innovation E&S, which focuses on carbon-free energy supply, energy efficiency, sustainability, and onshore wind projects. It is also increasingly joining RE100, an initiative to bring together businesses that have voluntarily committed to 100% renewable electricity to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions and enhance business export competitiveness. Along with various renewable energy entrepreneurs, it is currently operating large-scale onshore wind farms in Shinan, Jeonnam Province; Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province; and Yangsan, Jeonnam Province.
Last Words
The successful launch of the Jeonnam Offshore Wind Farm 1 is a significant milestone for South Korea’s clean energy future. It is proof that with the right mix of technology, public-private partnerships, and community engagement, large-scale renewable energy projects can succeed and scale up.
Since offshore wind is a cornerstone of South Korea’s green energy ambitions, this project will likely be remembered as the catalyst that changed the game.
