Combined Heat and Power Plant Completed in Chungnam Naepo... "Opening of the Clean Fuel Transition Era"

The combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Naepo New Town, Chungnam, is set to begin full-scale operation. With the operation of the CHP plant, Chungnam has entered an era of clean fuel transition.

On the 19th, according to Chungnam Province and Naepo Green Energy, the day before, Naepo Green Energy held a completion ceremony for the Naepo CHP plant along with Chungnam officials, National Assembly member Hong Moon-pyo, Lee Seung-woo, President of Korea Southern Power, Choi Yeon-hye, President of Korea Gas Corporation, and Shin Chi-ho, Head of Lotte Construction.

The completion ceremony took place five years after the decision to change the main fuel of the CHP plant from Solid Refuse Fuel (SRF) to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Originally, Korea Southern Power and Lotte Construction established Naepo Green Energy in 2014 (joint investment) and planned to build an SRF-based CHP facility aiming for operation in 2019.

However, the project was temporarily halted due to residents' opposition over environmental pollution concerns related to the operation of the SRF-based facility, which led to the decision to change the CHP facility’s fuel from SRF to LNG.

Facing difficulties in advancing the project due to residents' opposition, Naepo Green Energy went through consultations with Chungnam Province, the central government, and local residents, and in September 2018 decided to change the main fuel of the CHP facility to LNG. At that time, Naepo Green Energy also held a ‘Clean Fuel Transition Declaration Ceremony.’

Subsequently, Naepo Green Energy began construction in December 2020 and built a 500MW-scale pilot CHP plant, completing preparations for full-scale operation by starting commercial operation at the end of May this year.

Although the project once faced suspension due to residents' opposition, it ultimately succeeded in normalizing the project through fuel transition via dialogue and consultation among Chungnam Province, the central government, private businesses, and local residents.

Na Dong-heon, President of Naepo Green Energy, said, “The clean fuel transition of the Naepo CHP plant is an achievement made possible by the cooperation of residents, companies, the central government, and local governments,” adding, “Naepo Green Energy will strive to make Naepo New Town a green and clean city through the use of clean fuel and reduction of environmental pollution at the CHP plant.”