Smart Energy Center (Cheongju) power station — South Korea

Smart Energy Center (Cheongju) power station is a 585 MW gas power station in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. It is operated by SK Hynix [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 659k homes (estimated). It ranks #64 of 216 South Korea power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2024, it is around 2 years old — recently built. 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 GOGPT_smartcentercheongju_southk.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000406332; fuel: GEM GOGPT

In context: how this plant compares

At 585 MW, Smart Energy Center (Cheongju) power station 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.

Key facts

Share of South Korea gas capacity

1.0% of 58,006 MW across 77 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

54 of 67 dated gas 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 gas plants in South Korea

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

Owner

Operated by SK Hynix [100%].

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 monsoon hot-summer continental climate (Köppen Dwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 36.6°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 25% 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: 64/100 — 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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), 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 #34 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

• Cheongju CHP plant · Oil · 58.3 MW · Chungcheongbuk-do
• Shinsejong power station · Gas · 630 MW · Daejeon
• Janggun Cogeneration power station · Biomass · 5 MW · Chungcheongnam-do
• Daecheong · Hydro · 90 MW · Daejeon
• Sejong · Hydro · 2.3 MW · Daejeon
• Sejong City · Gas · 530 MW · Chungcheongnam-do

Location

Coordinates 36.64927, 127.42218 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

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