Gochang Solar Power Projects Face New Permit Halt Due to Saturated Power Grid
Designated as a "System Management Substation" in 2024
Future Prospects Depend on Grid Reinforcement
As the power grid in Gochang, North Jeolla Province is reaching the point where it can no longer adequately accept additional power, it is expected that new permits for solar power generation projects will also be halted. On August 20, the Gochang County Office announced that, due to the lack of grid capacity, if an application for a new solar power generation project is submitted in the future, the project may be denied or rejected if it cannot be connected to the electrical grid.
This is not simply a measure to restrict the installation of solar power facilities, but an administrative procedure that determines whether to approve a project based on the actual possibility of connecting the electricity produced to the power grid. The possibility of grid connection is also an important criterion in permit reviews under the Electric Utility Act.
The issue of insufficient capacity in the Gochang area power grid has already been apparent for several years.
Since June 2024, the Gochang substation has been designated as a "system management substation" to manage the situation where the power grid can no longer fully accept the electricity produced by power generation facilities. In such cases, output control may be implemented, meaning the output of generation facilities such as solar power may be temporarily reduced depending on supply and demand conditions.
Despite these circumstances, applications for solar power generation projects have continued, and the county explained that the current situation has exceeded the level the power grid can handle.
Simply installing a solar power plant does not guarantee the supply of electricity. There must be available capacity to connect the electricity produced by the plant to the grid through substations and transmission and distribution lines in order to ensure normal power generation and supply.
The Gochang County Office maintains that if new generation projects are approved before the grid is reinforced and additional capacity is secured, it could lead to situations where businesses construct solar power plants but are unable to actually connect the generated electricity to the grid.
Going forward, Gochang County plans to deny or reject applications for solar power projects that cannot be connected to the power grid, in accordance with relevant laws and permit criteria.
However, rather than restricting solar power projects themselves, the county plans to continue discussions with relevant agencies to ensure that the local power grid can be expanded stably.
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An official from Gochang County said, "Currently, even if solar power plants are established, it is not possible to connect them to the power grid," and added, "We will continue working with relevant agencies to secure grid capacity as soon as possible and make every necessary effort."
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