Samcheonpo — South Korea
Coal power plant in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Approximate location 34.9103, 128.1085.
CoalGyeongsangnam-doSouth KoreaCO₂ modelled
Samcheonpo is a 3,240 MW coal power station in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It is operated by Korea South East Power (KOSEP). Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 4.1 million homes (estimated). It ranks #9 of 216 South Korea power plants by installed capacity. Its modelled annual emissions are 7,216,200 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 1.7 million cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 31.1% 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 WRI1000186.
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 2,120 MW for Samchonpo 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: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 3,240 MW, Samcheonpo is well above the median coal plant in South Korea (400 MW). Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~7,216,200 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 coal capacity
- 6.9% of 46,928 MW across 34 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 coal plants in South Korea
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Korea South East Power (KOSEP). All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 34.9°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 15% 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: 45/100 — 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 corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with marine corrosion 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 #6 largest coal power plant of 34 in South Korea by capacity.
South Korea has 34 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 46,928 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Samchonpo power station · Gas · 2,120 MW · South Gyeongsang
- Goseong Green power station · Coal · 2,080 MW · Gyeongsangnam-do
- Jinju Landfill Gas · Waste · 15 MW · Gyeongsangnam-do
- Hadong · Coal · 4,000 MW · Jeollanam-do
- Tongyeong power station · Gas · 1,000 MW · Gyeongsangnam-do
- Kwangyang · Gas · 1,126 MW · Jeollanam-do
Location
Coordinates 34.9103, 128.1085 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Samcheonpo?
Samcheonpo is a 3,240 MW coal power plant in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.
Who operates Samcheonpo?
Samcheonpo is operated by Korea South East Power (KOSEP).
How much CO₂ does Samcheonpo emit?
Samcheonpo has modelled emissions of about 7,216,200 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).