Global offshore wind leader Ørsted has secured approval for a 1.6 GW Electricity Business License (EBL) from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea for an offshore wind project located 70 km off the coast of Incheon City.
The license grants Ørsted exclusive development rights for its gigawatt-scale Incheon offshore wind project which is set to become the largest in Korea on completion and will contribute to the country’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.
The Ørsted project has the potential to support Incheon City’s net-zero target with a capacity to provide renewable energy to over a million households whilst reducing carbon emissions by approximately 4 million tonnes annually.
Per Mejnert Kristensen, President of Ørsted Asia Pacific, says:
“At Ørsted, we’re pleased to secure our first Electricity Business License in Korea. We now look forward to help accelerate the country’s green energy transition and support Incheon’s ambitions as a hub for renewable power. Ørsted has unparalleled capabilities for delivering large-scale offshore wind power projects and we have a strong track record working with Korean suppliers in our global portfolio over the past decade. This collaboration will ensure the Incheon project leads the way for a thriving offshore wind industry, capable of generating clean energy reliably, attracting long-term investments and creating jobs in Korea.”
Ronnie Brandstrup, Head of Ørsted Asia Pacific Project Development & Programmes, says:
“We thank the Korean government for approving Ørsted’s EBL application. At Ørsted, we believe that the green transition should have a positive impact on climate and nature and also deliver lasting benefits for society. Our teams have worked tirelessly to promote local co-existence initiatives and we’ll continue to actively engage with the local communities to create opportunities for local industries, fishers and residents throughout the entire cycle of the project.”
The next steps for Ørsted’s Incheon offshore wind project include environmental impact assessments, site investigations and preparations for participating in Korea’s annual fixed price wind auction. Subject to the successful outcome of these processes and Ørsted taking the final investment decision, the project is expected to be completed in the early 2030s.
