Assemblyman An Ho-young, "Saemangeum Tidal Power Generation Needed"

Case Study of Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Generation: A Key Solution Achieving Both Water Quality Improvement and Renewable Energy Production

[Wanju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] Ahn Ho-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Wanju, Muju, Jinan, Jangsu, Environment and Labor Committee), raised the necessity of Saemangeum tidal power generation by citing the case of Sihwa Lake during the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Environment's affiliated agencies on the 18th.

According to Ahn's office, until the mid-1990s, Sihwa Lake was known as the "lake of death," but as part of water quality improvement measures, the Sihwa Lake Comprehensive Management Plan was revised in 2002, and the construction of the Sihwa Lake tidal power plant was promoted.

Since the initial operation of the Sihwa Lake tidal power plant began in August 2011, it has transformed into the world's largest tidal power plant, producing an annual power output of 552 GWh.

The 552 GWh is enough to supply electricity to 500,000 households in a city, serves as an alternative energy equivalent to 5 million round trips between Seoul and Gangneung in a 2000cc car, and has the effect of reducing greenhouse gases equivalent to about 50 million 30-year-old Korean pine trees.

Rep. Ahn Ho-young stated, "Saemangeum is currently at a very important crossroads as the number one site for the Green New Deal," and added, "We need to comprehensively consider issues of safety, water quality, ecology, and energy transition, review the necessity of additional gate installation and tidal power generation, and accordingly consider changes to the Saemangeum development plan (MP)."

Meanwhile, the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee plans to conduct an on-site inspection of the Sihwa Lake tidal power plant operated by Korea Water Resources Corporation on the 19th, following Rep. Ahn Ho-young's proposal.

Wanju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr