Pitch and Yaw Bearing Testing Center Included in National Budget
Domestic Testing Now Possible... Hundreds of Billions Saved Annually
Virtuous Cycle of Equipment Production, Testing, Certification, and Export
Aerial view of the offshore wind core component testing center 'Pitch-Yo Bearing' Center. Provided by Jeonnam Province
The first domestic offshore wind core component testing center will be established in Yeongam, Jeonnam Province.
According to Jeonnam Province on October 5, a "super-large offshore wind turbine pitch·yaw bearing durability testing center" (site area: 3,300 square meters) will be built within the Daebul National Industrial Complex in Yeongam County, Jeonnam Province.
This project, with a total budget of 25 billion won (15 billion won from the national government, 3 billion won from the province, and 7 billion won from the city and county), reflects Jeonnam Province's commitment to become a global supply chain hub by creating an offshore wind industry cluster.
The pitch·yaw bearing is a core component that adjusts the blade angle of large offshore wind turbines and directly affects power generation efficiency and stability.
As offshore wind turbine capacity has rapidly increased-from 8MW in the 2010s, to 12MW in the 2020s, and now to over 15MW-the related components now require a high level of durability and certification testing.
However, since there are currently no facilities in Korea to verify these components, companies must go to Europe for testing, incurring high costs and long timeframes.
Once the center is established, domestic component manufacturers will be able to conduct their own testing and certification within Korea, eliminating the need to go abroad. This is expected to save hundreds of billions of won annually and enhance technological competitiveness.
In addition, by establishing a virtuous cycle structure of equipment production, testing, certification, and export, the region is expected to attract related companies, create jobs, and vitalize the local economy.
This project is especially meaningful as Jeonnam Province, which is leading the domestic offshore wind industry, recognized the need for the project and proactively planned and proposed it to the central government.
Jeonnam Province plans to accelerate the creation of a global offshore wind ecosystem encompassing the entire equipment industry cycle (turbines, blades, towers, etc.) by linking the testing center with the large-scale offshore wind power complex that is scheduled to begin construction.
Jung Hyunggu, Director of the Energy Industry Bureau of Jeonnam Province, stated, "This project is an important turning point that will provide offshore wind-related companies with the infrastructure to compete in the global market. We hope that a full-cycle ecosystem-from production to testing, certification, and export-will be established in Jeonnam, centered around the testing center to be built."
Jeonnam Province also plans to promote support projects to give preference to the local supply chain and to further identify national projects necessary for fostering the offshore wind industry.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
