Singapore-based subsea engineering company G8 has secured permitting approval to proceed with plans for a 1.5GW offshore wind project agreed with South Korean industrial group Holim Tech.
The 1500MW G8 - Holim offshore wind farm is due to be paired with a 'next generation ultra-long life' lithium ion energy storage system from G8’s technology partner 3DOM, which would stabilise power transmitted to the grid.
It is due to consist of 189 turbines with individual power ratings of 8MW installed on floating platforms.
The project is due to be built off the south-western tip of South Korea, about 60km from the shore. Its site has wind speeds of 7-8m/s, a G8 spokeswoman told Windpower Monthly.
The developers have received approval to use the site from regional fisheries and maritime authorities and additional permitting approval from the ministry of trade, industry and energy. They are working with fishing authorities on cable routes and transmission landing points before starting construction.
The two companies signed the project agreement on 24 December 2021, two weeks after G8 established its Korean office.
They aim to reach financial close as early as 2023 and begin construction and marine works in 2023 or 2024, ahead of commissioning the project’s three stages by 2026.
Pascal Cheon, G8 Korea’s chief operating officer, said: “We are pleased to initiate the commercial execution of this significant project after detailed evaluation and planning, with local authority permission to proceed. The construction and operations of our turbine plant here will also contribute to future job creation.”
Gerald Tan, Managing Director of G8 Group, added: "Energy storage will be an important element to propel large-scale renewables forward. This project will be an important step for both G8 and the South Korean Wind Power industry, as it will be one of the largest offshore wind farm projects in Asia to utilise our next generation energy storage technologies, offering our commercial and utility clients a complete and long-lasting energy storage solution."
G8 plans to install the project’s high-voltage subsea power cables with its precision cable lay and protection technologies to ensure maximum long-term security of the power connection to the grid. The facilities and offshore turbine structures specified will use 'global leading standards' while supporting the local construction and marine industries, G8 stated.
In early December, as well as its battery technology supply agreement with 3DOM, G8 announced a technological development framework agreement with South Korean structural engineering firm Wookyung Engineering & Construction for floating offshore wind structures. These will incorporate G8's proprietary modular tractive buoyancy (MTB) system to scale up offshore renewable energy production in South Korea.
Several developers have announced plans for large-scale offshore wind farms off South Korea, including Shell and CoensHexicon, Ocean Winds, EDPR and Aker Solutions, Equinor, TotalEnergies (then known as Total) and Green Investment Group, and Ørsted. Plans for an 8.2GW project off the south-west coast have also been announced.
South Korea aims to become one of the top five countries for offshore wind deployment by 2030, with a 16.5GW goal, its president, Moon Jae-in, has said.
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