South Korea has begun converting a retired coal plant site into a renewable energy hub, with state utility Korea Western Power (Kowepo) signing an agreement with Vena Energy and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners to build a 500-MW offshore wind farm off Taean county, local media reported on July 8.

The project, due online in 2029, will reuse the grid infrastructure of the shuttered Taean 1 coal plant and operate for about 25 years. Kowepo said it would form the first phase of a planned 1.4-GW offshore wind cluster and generate local jobs and economic benefits.

Climate and Energy Minister Kim Sung-hwan described the development as a model for a just transition, pledging continued policy support for similar initiatives as South Korea pursues a 10.5 GW offshore wind target by 2030.

The project comes as South Korea's state-run power utilities are stepping up preparations for the country's coal phase-out. Korea Southern Power, for example, last week began a joint study with the climate ministry and other state firms on repurposing retired coal-fired power assets and workforce.