Pyeongtaek — South Korea
Oil power plant in Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. Approximate location 37.0041, 126.7946.
OilChungcheongnam-doSouth KoreaCCGT · HRSGCO₂ modelled
Pyeongtaek is a 1,400 MW oil power station in Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. It is operated by Korea Western Power. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.1 million homes (estimated). It ranks #34 of 216 South Korea power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1980, it is around 46 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 6,221,600 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 1.5 million cars driven for a year. In context, oil supplies about 1.0% 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 WRI1000197.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 2,268 MW for Pyeongtaek power station, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000401389; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,400 MW, Pyeongtaek is well above the median oil plant in South Korea (228 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~6,221,600 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 oil capacity
- 29.7% of 4,708 MW across 5 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 5 dated oil plants in South Korea are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest oil plants in South Korea
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Korea Western Power. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 37.0°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 18% above 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: 59/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with thermal cycling 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 #2 largest oil power plant of 5 in South Korea by capacity.
South Korea has 5 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 4,708 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Hwasung KDHC · Gas · 510 MW · Chungcheongnam-do
- Pyeongtaek · Gas · 1,348 MW · Gyeonggi-do
- Bugok · Gas · 1,503 MW · Chungcheongnam-do
- Bugok Biomass · Biomass · 105 MW · Chungcheongnam-do
- Dangjin Combined Cycle power station · Gas · 2,406 MW · Chungcheongnam-do
- Dangjin Bio power station · Biomass · 210 MW · Chungcheongnam-do
Location
Coordinates 37.0041, 126.7946 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Pyeongtaek?
Pyeongtaek is a 1,400 MW oil power plant in Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea, commissioned in 1980.
Who operates Pyeongtaek?
Pyeongtaek is operated by Korea Western Power.
How much CO₂ does Pyeongtaek emit?
Pyeongtaek has modelled emissions of about 6,221,600 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).