K-water Report : Water, Nature and Humankind

K-water Report
K-water
leads K-tidal power generation with the
world’s best technology and
operational prowess
Tidal power generation is widely considered one of the most viable solutions to sustainable development and climate change because it uses sea water to ensure production of green energy. K-water has acquired the world’s top-notch technology and operational prowess by having operated the world’s largest Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station since August 2011. Based on these experiences and technological expertise, K-water has been implementing the Mersey River tidal power generation project in Liverpool, UK and other various cooperation projects aimed at achieving carbon neutrality, further enhancing its global profile in the area of tidal power generation.
Written by Choi Haeng-jwa Source K-water

Tidal Electric Power Generation

With the technological expertise and experiences gained from the construction and operation of the Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Plant, the world’s largest tidal power station, K-water has been actively involved in the development of tidal power generation projects.

K-tidal power generation technology in the UK

Tidal power generation uses the ebb and flow of tides that occur twice a day to generate electricity. K-water is operating the ‘Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station’ at Sihwa tidal embankment in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do Province. The tidal power plant which is Korea’s one-of-a-kind tidal power plant with the world’s largest power output capacity(facility-based) started its operation in August 2011. A total of 10(25.4MW) generators produce 552GWh electricity per year, which supplies the yearly needs of 500,000 people.
Based on its know-how and technology gained from the construction and operation of the Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station, K-water and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority(LCRCA) signed an MOA on expanding technological cooperation including technological exchanges and consultations so as to promote carbon neutrality and ensure successful development of the Mersey River tidal power generation project.
The MOA proposal was made by LCRCA, and under it, △the two parties will exchange technology on research, design, construction and operation of tidal power plants, △discuss how to participate in the Mersey Tidal Power Project, △and conduct joint R&D and manpower exchange to achieve carbon neutrality and a water-energy-city nexus.
The Mersey Tidal Power Project is UK’s largest public renewable energy development project to build a tidal power station at the Mersey River in Liverpool capable of generating 1.2~4TWh per year which supplies 700~2,400 MW for up to one million households. The station is scheduled to start operations in 2030.
Under the agreement, K-water will take part in the Mersey Tidal Power Project and share its technology and know-how on the construction and operation of the world’s largest tidal power station.
K-water will also discuss specific ways to get involved in the project and reduce carbon emissions, and in the long run, the two parties are expected to work together on carbon neutrality.
Going forward, K-water as a global leader in tidal power generation is planning to get actively involved in tidal power generation projects at home and abroad, based on its accumulated prowess and experience of constructing and operating the Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station, the world’s largest tidal power station.

LCRCA-K-water MOA

Energy·environment·tourism all in one at Sihwaho Tidal Power Station

The Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station with 1.5 million visitors each year has been hard at work on creating renewable energy clusters as a center of carbon neutrality and new industries by capitalizing on potential green energy sources.
The station introduced the building-integrated photovoltaic system(BIPV) and the demonstration system for cooling and heating using sea water in 2021. In 2022, it is working on expanding renewable energy including construction of photovoltaic power generation facilities at the parking lot of the Sihwa Narae rest station.
In addition, the largest energy cluster in S. Korea will be created by 2030 to develop approximately 435.5MW(including tidal power generation expansion) comprised of floating photovoltaic power, offshore wind power, fuel cells, and cooling and heating using sea water. The Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station is in the process of transforming itself into a ‘three-tiered power station’ where energy, environment and tourism coexist, as well as serving as a mecca of carbon neutrality and a major tourist attraction that offers a leisure venue for citizens.

BIPV installed at the administration building of the Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station

Gates of the Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station
Water-turbine generator

AI-operated tidal power generation

K-water is operating the Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station on K-TOP 4.0, the world’s best tidal power plant operation system. The digital twin technology K-TOP(tidal power plant operation system) is designed to calculate the amount of power generation, based on the same conditions of the actual power generators. It suggests a generation schedule for a maximum amount of power by capitalizing on the irregular ebbs and flows of tide. It also predicts the mid- to long-term tidal power generation for one year or longer, which is essential for a feasibility test on tidal power generation and an economic evaluation for design development and construction document.
Since it can also calculate the power generation amount on two-way generation as well as one-way generation used at the Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station, it is geared to emerge as a leading technology that can be used in the construction of tidal power plants at home and abroad.
K-TOP has acquired the GS(Good Software) Certification and intellectual property right, and has continued to evolve starting with K-TOP 1.0, a single-effect flood generation operation program developed in 2015, in a bid to improve convenience and make the calculation of double-effect power generation possible.
In December 2021, K-water has completed the development of K-TOP 4.0, an AI-based smart tidal generation operation program.
K-TOP uses ‘real-time automatic water gate operation AI’ and ‘tidal generation operation strategy AI’. The ‘real-time automatic water gate operation AI’ equipped with the algorithm that offers real-time predictions of the sea water level that constantly changes is an automatic water gate operation system developed to automatically open the water gate and release the water from Sihwaho Lake. The ‘tidal generation operation strategy AI’is an automatic generator operation system that analyzes past operational data and sorts out the patterns to make self-initiated decisions as to maximizing power generation.
The Sihwaho Tidal Power Station is planning to be transformed into an automatically operated smart power plant equipped with AI by 2025, utilizing big data collected on a variety of fields including marine science, meteorology, ecology and water quality. K-water plans to step up efforts to promote Korea’s superior tidal generation technology globally by taking capitalizing on its prowess and know-how on the Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station operations, while also setting new ‘global standards’ in tidal generation.

The Sihwaho Lake Tidal Power Station