Imha Dam

Imha Dam
Spillway of the dam
Imha Dam is located in South Korea
Imha Dam
Imha Dam
Location within South Korea
CountrySouth Korea
LocationAndong
Coordinates36°32′15″N 128°53′00″E / 36.53750°N 128.88333°E / 36.53750; 128.88333
StatusOperational
Construction began1987
Opening date1991
OwnerKorea Water Resources Corporation
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment, rock-fill
ImpoundsBanbyeoncheon River
Height73 m (240 ft)
Length515 m (1,690 ft)
Dam volume3,423,000 m3 (4,477,115 cu yd)
Reservoir
Total capacity595,000,000 m3 (482,374 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area1,361 km2 (525 sq mi)
Surface area26.4 km2 (10 sq mi)
Power Station
Turbines2 x 25 MW
Installed capacity50 MW

The Imha Dam is an embankment dam on the Banbyeoncheon River, a tributary of the Nakdong River, 14 km (9 mi) east of Andong in Gyeongsangbuk-do province, South Korea. The purpose of the dam is flood control, water supply and hydroelectric power generation. Construction on the dam began in 1987 and it was complete in 1991. The 73 m (240 ft) tall rock-fill, central earth-core dam creates a reservoir with a capacity of 595,000,000 m3 (482,374 acre⋅ft) and supplies a 50 MW power station with water. It supplies water for both municipal and industrial uses to Gumi, Dagu, Masan, Changwon, Jinhae, Ulsan, and Busan.

Floating Solar Power Plant

In 2025, a 47 MW floating photovoltaic power plant was commissioned at the Imha Dam reservoir. Construction began in July of 2024. Designated as South Korea's first renewable energy cluster, the facility operates in conjunction with the existing hydroelectric station to supply solar power during the day and hydropower at night. The combined hybrid hydro and solar PV is expected to generate 61 GWh annually. The project was co-developed by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the Korea Water Resources Corporation at a cost of KRW 73.2 billion ($50.2 million). The floating array features a unique design with 16 structures arranged to resemble the Korean flag and national flower. The project is notable for its "Sunlight Pension" community participation model, which allows approximately 4,500 local residents to share in the profits generated by the plant.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Imha Multipurpose Dam Project" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  2. ↑ "Andong & Imha Reservoirs". LakeLove. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  3. 1 2 Stojkovski, Bojan. "47 MW floating solar project goes operational in South Korea to generate clean power". Interesting Engineering. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Construction starts on South Korea's Imha Dam floating solar plant". www.enlit.world. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  5. ↑ JOWETT, PATRICK. "South Korea switches on 47.2 MW floating PV project". pv-magazine. pv magazine group. Retrieved 19 November 2025.