Pohang Works — South Korea

Pohang Works is a 981.9 MW gas power station in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.1 million homes (estimated). It ranks #45 of 216 South Korea power plants by installed capacity. Its modelled annual emissions are 2,112,900 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 493k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 27.9% of South Korea's electricity; the national grid averages 417 gCO₂/kWh (40.0% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id CT-5418.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000406324; fuel: GEM wiki unit-level operating Fuel(s), fetched 2026-07-05

In context: how this plant compares

At 981.9 MW, Pohang Works is well above the median gas plant in South Korea (515 MW). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

~2,112,900 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms

This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:

Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.

Key facts

Share of South Korea gas capacity

1.7% of 58,006 MW across 77 plants in this dataset

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest gas plants in South Korea

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Local climate & thermal context

This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 36.0°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 1% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 49/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~0% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #21 largest gas power plant of 77 in South Korea by capacity.

South Korea has 77 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 58,006 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Pohang power station · Coal · 500 MW · North Gyeongsang
• FINEX · Gas · 146 MW · Gyeongsangbuk-do
• Pohang Works · Gas · 345 MW · Gyeongsangbuk-do
• Shin-Wolsong · Nuclear · 2,096 MW · Ulsan
• Wolsong · Nuclear · 2,799 MW · Ulsan
• Youngduk · Wind · 40 MW · Gyeongsangbuk-do

Location

Coordinates 36.0113, 129.38 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions