Completion set for August 2029; project to generate 146 GWh annually

Expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 61,000 tons per year

Aims to bolster renewable energy supply for advanced industries in the southwest

An aerial rendering of the Gochang offshore wind power project. [Posco E&C]
An aerial rendering of the Gochang offshore wind power project. [Posco E&C]

Posco E&C announced Thursday it will begin full-scale construction of an offshore wind power project off the coast of Gochang in North Jeolla Province.

The company signed a construction contract for the 76.2-megawatt Gochang Offshore Wind Project and will break ground this month. With a total construction cost of about 297.4 billion won ($221 million), the project targets completion and commercial power generation by August 2029. Posco E&C will oversee the entire process, from design and procurement to construction.

Offshore wind power generation works by installing wind turbines in bodies of water — such as lakes, fjords and coastal areas — and converting the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy through rotating blades to produce electricity.

Once completed, the Gochang facility is expected to generate about 146 GWh of electricity per year — enough to power roughly 35,000 households for a full year. By generating electricity from wind rather than coal or gas, the project is projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 61,000 tons annually. It is also expected to create approximately 11,800 jobs during the construction period, providing a boost to the local economy.

The project is expected to contribute to the renewable energy supply in the southwestern region — encompassing North Jeolla Province and South Jeolla Province — where semiconductor complexes and data centers are planned. As global technology companies increasingly require 100 percent renewable energy sourcing under the RE100 initiative, the electricity generated by this project is expected to play a key role in attracting businesses to the region and strengthening its industrial competitiveness.

To meet the challenges of a harsh marine environment, Posco E&C will combine Posco Group's materials expertise with its own construction capabilities. The project will use high-grade specialty steel from Posco that resists corrosion in seawater, enhancing the durability of the structures. The company also plans to draw on construction know-how accumulated through large-scale maritime projects, including the Incheon Cheongna Sky Bridge and port construction work in Vietnam, to ensure quality and safety.

Meanwhile, Posco Group announced in July a "triple core" strategy centered on resources, including a goal to enter the offshore wind energy sector. This project is regarded as an early demonstration of group-wide synergy in offshore wind EPC (engineering, procurement and construction), combining Posco's steel materials competitiveness with Posco E&C's construction capabilities ahead of the group's full-scale push into the offshore wind market.

"The Gochang offshore wind project goes beyond supplying renewable energy to local advanced industrial complexes — it is a meaningful undertaking that will help grow domestic offshore wind technology and the supply chain together," a Posco E&C official said. "We will use this project as a springboard to lead the large-scale offshore wind market and take the initiative in the nation's energy transition."


hss@heraldcorp.com