2 weeks Ago By Jung Jun-ho
DL E&C announced on April 21 that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Yeongdong Pumped Storage Power Plant in Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. The Yeongdong Pumped Storage Power Plant will generate electricity using two dams by pumping water from a lower dam to an upper dam when demand is low, and releasing it to generate power during peak demand. The plant will be built over an area of 1.
18 million square meters in Sangchon-myeon and Yanggang-myeon, Yeongdong-gun, with a capacity of 500MW (megawatts), producing enough electricity to supply approximately 110,000 households. DL E&C secured the project worth 503.4 billion KRW in August of last year, with a target completion date set for 2030.
This marks the first new pumped storage project initiated by Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power in 13 years and the first pumped storage power plant built in South Korea since the Yecheon Pumped Storage Power Plant in 2011, which was also constructed by DL E&C. DL E&C has extensive experience in hydropower and dam-related projects, including the Karun Dam in Iran, the Gulpur Hydropower Plant in Pakistan, and the Karyan Dam in Indonesia. Given the importance of durability and stability in pumped storage power plants, the construction includes the challenging task of building a 430-meter vertical tunnel connecting the upper and lower dams.
With the recent increase in decarbonization efforts and renewable energy sources, the demand for pumped storage power plants is rising. These facilities, capable of storing energy and addressing the variability of solar and wind power generation, are gaining attention as crucial alternatives for meeting the growing electricity demand. Furthermore, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology are expected to significantly increase electricity consumption, positioning pumped storage plants as key components of the future energy market.
The power authorities plan to construct an additional 1.75GW (gigawatts) of pumped storage power plants as outlined in the 10th Basic Plan for Power Supply and Demand. Currently, there are nine locations, including Hongcheon-gun in Gangwon Province and Gurye-gun in Jeollanam-do, where pumped storage power plants are under construction or planned.
“We are the construction company that completed the last pumped storage power plant in the country and are starting the construction of a new pumped storage plant after 13 years," said an official from DL E&C. "We aim to successfully execute this project to enhance energy security and stimulate the local economy.”.
