Lawmaker reports Korea's renewable grid backlog reaches 3.5 GW
Lawmaker Kim Wi-sang reported on October 6, 2026, that 3,546 MW of renewable energy capacity is awaiting grid connection in Korea due to insufficient power grid infrastructure. Over 64% of this backlog, totaling 2,298 MW, is concentrated in the Honam region, hindering renewable deployment.
Our take
How severe is Korea's renewable energy grid connection backlog and its regional impact?
The significant disparity between Korea's rapid renewable energy deployment and slow grid infrastructure expansion, evidenced by a 30.3% transmission/substation completion rate against plans, shifts the risk of project delays and stranded assets onto renewable developers, particularly in resource-rich regions like Honam.
The inability to connect 3.5 GW of renewable capacity directly impacts developer revenue by delaying or preventing project operation. KEPCO's proposed solution, relying on building 23 substations in three years when average construction takes over six years, indicates a high probability of further delays. This systemic bottleneck forces developers to either wait indefinitely, incur holding costs, or abandon projects, effectively transferring grid-related development risk from the grid operator to private investors.
What the source says
- As of May 2026, out of 38,065 MW of renewable energy connection applications, 29,382 MW have completed grid connection.
- The 3,546 MW grid connection backlog is equivalent to approximately 3.5 nuclear power plants.
- Business-use renewable energy facilities increased from 7,090 MW in 2016 to 37,111 MW in 2025, a more than five-fold increase.
- Actual installation of renewable energy facilities consistently met or exceeded targets, ranging from 95.2% to 115.9% of the Basic Plan for Long-term Electricity Supply and Demand each year.
- Between 2017 and 2025, only 2,202 c-km of transmission and substation facilities were completed, compared to a planned 7,266 c-km.
- For the distribution grid, only 12 out of 23 projects started in 2024 were completed (52.2%), and only 3 out of 35 projects in 2025 were completed (8.6%).
- KEPCO's plan to resolve 3,417 MW of backlog between 2026 and 2030 requires constructing 30 new substations, with 23 of these scheduled for 2028-2030.
- Kim Wi-sang Lawmaker Kim Wi-sang stated that while renewable energy power plants can be built in 1-5 years, grid infrastructure takes 5-15 years to complete.
- Kim Wi-sang Lawmaker Kim Wi-sang warned that the grid bottleneck in Honam, a region pursuing a semiconductor cluster, could impede industrial attraction.
For investors — Investors in Korean DER should factor in extended grid connection timelines, especially for projects in the Honam region, and scrutinize KEPCO's grid expansion schedules for feasibility. Prioritize projects with confirmed grid access or those in less congested areas to mitigate significant operational delays and associated financial risks.
Watch: Monitoring KEPCO's progress on substation construction, particularly the 23 planned for 2028-2030, and any revised grid expansion plans from the Korean government.
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