World Power Plants

Sunchon power station is a prominent coal-fired power generation facility located in North Korea, with a notable capacity of 400 MW. Commissioned in 1984, this power plant plays a crucial role in the country’s energy landscape by utilizing coal as its primary fuel source. The technology employed is typical of conventional coal power plants, which convert the thermal energy released from burning coal into electricity. Situated at coordinates 39.4014, 125.9682, Sunchon power station is strategically located to supply power to the regional grid, supporting both residential and industrial energy needs. As North Korea continues to depend heavily on coal for its energy generation, the Sunchon power station remains a key asset within the national energy mix. The facility not only contributes significantly to electricity production but also underscores the country's ongoing reliance on fossil fuels amidst global shifts towards renewable energy sources.

Capacity
400 MW
Commissioning Year
1984

42 years old

Owner
Sunchon Power Plant
Location
39.4014°, 125.9682°

North Korea, Asia

Context & rankings
  • 7. largest of 31 plants in North Korea
  • #5,237 worldwide by installed capacity
  • #1,708 of 2,793 Coal plants worldwide
  • 4.34% of the installed capacity of North Korea
Age & fleet comparison

42 years in operation

Coal fleet average: 29.2 years

Operator portfolio

Sunchon Power Plant operates 1 plants totalling 400 MW

Regional density

9 plants within 100 km, 3,530 MW combined

Nearest plant: Huichon (31.9 km)

Data provenance

Location

Coordinates:: 39.401400, 125.968200
Open in Google Maps
Carbon Footprint820 g CO₂/kWh
Annual CO₂
1.58 Mt
1927 GWh/year × 820 g/kWh
Cumulative CO₂
66.37 Mt
Over 42 years of operation
Past Retirement
2024
2 years past expected retirement
Annual emissions equivalent to
343.5K
cars per year
210.7K
homes per year
71.8M
trees to offset

Estimates based on Coal emission factor (820 g CO₂/kWh) and capacity factor (55%). Actual emissions may vary based on operating conditions, efficiency, and fuel quality.

Technical Details

Primary Fuel Type
Coal
Energy Source
Non-Renewable
Country
North Korea
Continent
Asia
Data Source
Global Power Plant Database

North KoreaEnergy Profile

31
Total Plants
9.2 GW
Total Capacity
CoalHydro
Top Fuels

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