Topic of the Month

K-water Leads the Transition to Renewable Energy with Water Energy in the Era of RE100

As the climate crisis intensifies, governments including the international community are strengthening greenhouse gas reduction targets and focusing on expanding clean energy. Consequently, the demand for companies to implement RE100 (Renewable Electricity 100%) is increasing, and green protectionism is expected to become even stronger around the globe. In response, K-water is actively responding to climate crisis and supporting the growth foundation of advanced industries while aiming to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy to help domestic companies overcome green trade barriers.

Text by. the Editorial Team Photos by. K-water
  • K-water, On the Verge of Becoming the First in Korea to Achieve RE100
    As Korea’s number one renewable energy company, K-water has been at the forefront of achieving national carbon neutrality. Starting with hydroelectric power generation at Soyang River Dam in 1973, K-water has been expanding clean energy development using water including the world’s largest tidal power plant at Lake Sihwa, floating solar power, hydrothermal energy, and green hydrogen. K-water currently operates a total renewable energy capacity of 1.5 GW—the largest for a single institution in Korea—accounting for 4.6% of the nation’s total renewable energy. The company plans to continue expanding renewable energy projects utilizing water infrastructure to contribute to national greenhouse gas reduction.
    In 2021, K-water became the first Korean public institution to join the global RE100 initiative. RE100 is a voluntary global campaign that commits to sourcing 100% of electricity from renewable energy by 2050. Currently, 424 companies in 175 countries are members, including 36 Korean companies. As of 2024, K-water is expected to become the first domestic company to achieve the RE100 target. The company reported to CDP that it used 100% renewable energy for its annual total electricity consumption of 1,735 GWh in 2024 through 56 self-consumption solar plants and 10 large hydroelectric facilities via RECs.
  • K-water Uses PPAs to Help Companies Overcome Trade Barriers Imposed by RE100
    By the end of 2024, only 33 companies had achieved RE100—these are mostly in service industries and retail businesses such as offices and data centers, which do not rely heavily on manufacturing. Among the 36 Korean companies registered as global RE100 members, the overall renewable energy use rate was only 12%. According to CDP Korea, most renewable energy transitions by Korean companies took place overseas, and only two companies exceeded 50% RE100 implementation in domestic operations. In contrast, SK hynix, Samsung Display, and SK Specialty achieved 100% renewable energy use in overseas operations, with Samsung Electronics and Amorepacific also nearing full transition.
    The slow progress of RE100 implementation in Korea is partly due to the country’s high proportion of manufacturing industries, but more fundamentally because the supply of renewable energy is insufficient compared to the electricity consumption at domestic business sites. High generation costs, lack of renewable energy facilities and transmission infrastructure, and negative public perception of renewable energy installations are also cited as constraints on achieving RE100. As a result, domestic companies including global RE100 members have been increasing overseas investments instead of focusing on domestic sites to meet RE100 goals. Such shortage in renewable energy supply not only threatens to weaken the global competitiveness of Korean companies but could also lead to job losses in Korea and foreign currency outflow.
    To address this, K-water is supporting export companies in securing renewable energy and overcoming green trade barriers through direct Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). As of 2025, K-water has signed six direct PPA contracts totaling 299MW—the largest domestic supply volume— from hydro, tidal, floating solar, and wind power. The company plans to adopt PPAs actively in future renewable energy developments and expand supply gradually.
  • The Driving Force Behind Renewable Energy Transition
    Water Energy Switches On Regional Co-Prosperity
    K-water is not only engaged in traditional water energy sources like hydropower and tidal power but also working to develop and expand the distribution of various renewable energies. Hydrothermal energy uses water’s temperature characteristics—cooler than the air in summer and warmer in winter—by converting the heat of water into energy through heat pumps. Starting with the Juam Dam power plant in 2006, K-water supplied 3,000 RT of hydrothermal energy to Lotte World Tower II in 2014, promoting its adoption in regional landmarks and large buildings through the Ministry of Environment’s hydrothermal energy promotion projects.
    Construction began on July 30 for the Samsung Trade Center Hydrothermal Energy Supply Project. As an ultra-large building with total floor area of about 720,000㎡, the Samsung Trade Center will utilize water from nearby metropolitan water pipelines as a hydrothermal source to supply 7,000 RT of hydrothermal energy. This will be the largest single-building hydrothermal energy project in Korea and is expected to cut down heating and cooling costs by 20–50% compared to conventional systems.
    In addition, in 2024, K-water launched the construction of Gangwon Hydrothermal Energy Cluster, which uses deep water from Soyang River Dam to cool data centers. It is also promoting the introduction of hydrothermal energy in apartment complexes through the Hanam Gyosan APT pilot project, thereby leading the spread of hydrothermal energy in Korea.
    Water energy also creates new value for local communities. The Hapcheon Dam floating solar plant completed in 2021 was developed as a resident-participation project wherein around 20 nearby villages invested, and they are now receiving annual interest returns of up to 10% based on their investment shares. The Imha Dam floating solar complex scheduled for completion this year is also being developed as a resident-participation SPC project. Additional profits generated from the designation as a solar complex will be returned to local governments to support resident welfare programs and renewable energy development. Moreover, unlike the typical rectangular shape, the floating solar modules for these projects were designed to reflect local identity: plum blossoms as the county flower of Hapcheon for Hapcheon Dam, and Taegeuk symbol and Rose of Sharon symbolizing the city of Andong for Imha Dam. These designs enhance the scenic value of the dams, and they are expected to boost local tourism as new tourism resources by linking with nearby attractions.
    The renewable energy transition in response to the climate crisis is now an unavoidable mission of our time. By expanding renewable energy through water management infrastructure, K-water will contribute to the great transition to renewable energy, support national carbon neutrality goals, and lay the foundation for sustainable growth.

K-water’s Water Energy Projects

  • Hydro Power
    This generation method converts the potential energy of water from rivers or lakes into kinetic energy through turbines to produce electricity, making it one of the most representative clean renewable energies. K-water operates 1,093 MW of hydropower, accounting for 60% of Korea’s total hydropower capacity. It is also engaged in overseas hydropower projects such as the Angat Hydropower Plant in the Philippines, Patrind Hydropower Plant in Pakistan, and Tina Hydropower Plant on the Solomon Islands, drawing on its extensive experience and technical expertise.
  • Tidal Power
    Electricity is generated by utilizing the differences in sea level caused by tidal movements. K-water operates the 254 MW Sihwa Tidal Power Plant, the only tidal power facility in Korea and the largest in the world. The plant helps improve the marine environment by flexibly controlling the water level of Lake Sihwa and produces 552 GWh of electricity annually. K-water is also achieving the localization of core tidal power technologies by developing operating programs that combine AI-based smart power generation systems with digital twin technology for water management.
  • Hydrothermal Energy
    Water temperatures are lower than air temperatures in summer, but higher in winter. These characteristics of water are used to provide heating and cooling energy. By not using cooling towers or outdoor units, it reduces noise and vibration including the urban heat island effect. In 2024, K-water began construction of the Gangwon Hydrothermal Energy Cluster—which uses deep water from Soyang River Dam—as Korea’s first project to supply hydrothermal energy for data centers and smart farms.
  • Floating Solar Power
    These facilities install solar panels on the surface of bodies of water such as dams and reservoirs. Since they are installed on water, they avoid deforestation, and the cooling effect of the water makes them relatively more efficient than ground-mounted solar power. K-water commercialized the world’s first floating solar power model on a dam surface by installing a 2.4 kW facility at Juam Dam in 2009 and a 500 kW facility at Hapcheon Dam in 2012. It currently operates six plants including those in Boryeong and Chungju with total capacity of 58 MW, contributing to local economic revitalization through resident-participation projects.
  • Ground-Mounted Solar Power
    K-water installs solar panels on idle sites within its managed water facilities—such as purification plants and pumping stations—to reduce water production costs through self-consumption solar power.
    The company also plans to develop ground-mounted solar power further by utilizing idle sites at water facilities, unused land resources, and floodplain areas of dams.
  • Green Hydrogen
    Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced by electrolyzing water using electricity generated from renewable sources such as hydropower, tidal power, solar power, and wind. In September 2023, K-water—in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment—established a facility capable of producing up to 62 tons of green hydrogen annually using small hydropower at the Seongnam Purification Plant. The first batch of green hydrogen was shipped in July 2024. Beginning the second half of the year, hydrogen produced at the purification plant will be directly supplied through pipelines to a mobile hydrogen refueling station developed by Hyundai Motor and to be installed nearby.