In Dangjin, South Korea, one of the country's largest coastal solar installations has been successfully completed. Located within a protected migratory bird sanctuary and built on reclaimed coastal land, the project faced a unique combination of ecological, geotechnical, and climatic challenges. The project was commissioned by SK E&S and executed by Hanwha Solutions as EPC contractor.

The project spans a 990,000-square-meter reclaimed saltwater site along the coast of Dangjin at the western coastline of South Korea. The location lies within a designated migratory bird sanctuary, a winter haven for tens of thousands of migratory birds. Environmental compliance was paramount, with a mandatory construction halt from December through February to protect the habitat during peak migratory season. To minimize environmental impact, ramming noise was reduced where possible during installation.

Despite these constraints, the mounting system was fully installed in just 3.5 months of active build time. Material deliveries from Schletter began in November 2024, and the installation was completed by early May 2025. The continued presence of migratory birds at the site underscores the project's success in balancing clean energy development with environmental preservation.

“This project demonstrates that even the most demanding PV installations can be delivered on time with precision engineering, efficient logistics, and strong local collaboration,” said James Kim, Managing Director of Schletter Korea.

Schletter supplied its FS Duo SRF6 mounting system, combined with ETA2 and LC90 pile foundations—engineered for superior load-bearing capacity in corrosive, coastal environments. “Dangjin presented highly demanding conditions—from strong coastal winds and high salinity to unstable ground and strict environmental regulations. Our FS Duo system was chosen not only for its ease of installation but because it met and exceeded all structural and traceability requirements.

“Although it was our first time using Schletter’s system, installation was significantly faster and required fewer personnel compared to alternative solutions,” said Yang Il-seon, CEO of local installer Gaonnuri Co., Ltd. “We look forward to partnering with Schletter on future projects.”

The Dangjin project adds to Schletter Korea’s growing portfolio of large-scale utility references, following the successful completion of the 300 MWp Taean and 42 MWp Seosan plants—further solidifying the company’s leadership in South Korea’s solar infrastructure sector.

“We are proud to contribute to South Korea’s renewable energy transition with world-class structural solutions,” said Richard Lothholz, Chief Commercial Officer of Schletter Group. “Dangjin exemplifies our ability to combine global quality with local adaptability—particularly in complex, environmentally sensitive projects.”

Hwang Byung Jin, Project Manager at Hanwha Solutions, added: “For a site of this scale and complexity, structural integrity and environmental sensitivity were both non-negotiable. Schletter’s engineering gave us the confidence to deliver on both fronts without compromise.”

Building on its growing track record in South Korea, Schletter is now also expanding its presence in the small- and mid-scale PV segments, providing tailored engineering support, rapid response times, and certified structural performance for diverse project needs.