Korean Firm Makes Waves with Major Offshore Wind Project Delivery

GS Entec monopiles are currently being installed at the Yeonggwang Nakwol Offshore Wind Farm in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province. (GS Entec)

GS Entec, the energy equipment manufacturing division of GS Group, announced on Tuesday that it has delivered 50 of the 64 monopiles required for South Korea’s largest ongoing offshore wind farm project, the Yeonggwang Nakwol Offshore Wind Power Development.

Located off the southwestern coast of South Korea, the project will feature 64 turbines, each capable of producing 5.7 megawatts, resulting in a total capacity of 365 megawatts.

In 2023, GS Entec secured a contract valued at approximately 200 billion KRW (144.40 million USD) to supply all the monopiles for this project, with plans to complete deliveries by October of this year.

Monopiles are large, cylindrical steel structures fabricated from thick steel plates and welded together to anchor wind turbines to the seabed. Their straightforward design and cost-effectiveness have made them the preferred foundation type in offshore wind markets worldwide.

This project is significant as it marks the first instance of a South Korean manufacturer solely supplying monopiles for a large-scale offshore wind farm exceeding 100 megawatts, demonstrating the high quality and capability of domestically produced components.

To meet increasing demand, GS Entec is investing 300 billion KRW (228 million USD) to acquire state-of-the-art automated production equipment from Sif, the Netherlands-based global leader in offshore wind substructure manufacturing.

Once installed by early 2026, this upgrade is expected to double GS Entec’s production capacity.

Looking ahead, GS Entec plans to participate in domestic offshore wind projects such as the 344-megawatt Yeonggwang Hanbit Offshore Wind Power Project, which is scheduled for construction in 2027.

The company is also setting its sights on international markets including Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam, aiming to strengthen its position in the global supply chain.

“Our successful execution of the Yeonggwang Nakwol wind power project demonstrates our technological expertise and operational excellence,” said a GS Entec spokesperson. “We are committed to becoming a key global partner through continuous investment and innovation.”