Cases / Water use · South Korea · 1994–2011

Sihwa tidal station was built to address pollution in a seawall lake

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report

No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.

Did nature suffer? Not measured.

What the record lacks: 3 none on record · 1 not measured See the gaps

South Korea's 254 MW Sihwa tidal station was built to circulate water and address pollution in a lake cut off from the sea by a 1994 seawall. Two larger tidal schemes were postponed over threats to tidal flats and fishers' livelihoods.

What?

South Korea's 254 MW Sihwa tidal station was built to circulate water and address pollution in the lake behind a 1994 seawall. Nautilus Institute (NAPSNet)

Where?

Sihwa, South Korea; the postponed Incheon and Ganghwa schemes were also in South Korea. Nautilus Institute (NAPSNet)

When?

Seawall built in 1994; station dated 2011; the source article is dated 29.11.2011. Nautilus Institute (NAPSNet)

Who?

Gained

Operator of the Sihwa station (not named in the sources reviewed) — Generates electricity that can be sold Nautilus Institute (NAPSNet)

Lost

None on record

Harmed

Water quality in the lake behind the 1994 seawall — Collapsed after the lake was cut off from the sea Nautilus Institute (NAPSNet)
About 2,800 fishers near the proposed Incheon and Ganghwa tidal sites — Livelihoods threatened; the schemes were postponed Nautilus Institute (NAPSNet)
Tidal flats at the proposed Incheon and Ganghwa sites — Threatened by the proposed schemes Nautilus Institute (NAPSNet)

Why?

The station was built to circulate water and remove the pollution caused by the seawall lake. Nautilus Institute (NAPSNet)

How?

Tidal power generation of 254 MW combined with water circulation through the lake. Nautilus Institute (NAPSNet)

6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

A seawall built in 1994 to reclaim land separated a lake from the sea, and water quality in the lake collapsed, the Nautilus Institute reported.

The 254 MW Sihwa tidal station, dated 2011, was built to circulate water and remove this pollution, and the same report describes it as the world's largest tidal station.

Proposed 1,320 MW Incheon and 840 MW Ganghwa tidal schemes were postponed because they threatened tidal flats and the livelihoods of about 2,800 fishers.

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

Insurers

No insurer decision on record.

What we don't know

Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

Nature

Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

Record

None on record Not stated: whether the postponed Incheon and Ganghwa schemes were later built or cancelled.
None on record Not stated: the water quality of the lake after the station began operating, and its current condition.
None on record Not stated: the station's owner and operator by name.