German utility RWE has secured an electricity business licence (EBL) for the 495MW Seohae offshore wind project from South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

An EBL is a mandatory requirement that permits companies to generate and supply electricity in South Korea.

It grants RWE its first exclusive development rights for offshore wind in the country since the company opened an office in Seoul in 2021.

The Seohae offshore wind farm will be 45km offshore Taean County in Chungcheongnam province.

RWE offshore wind CEO Sven Utermöhlen stated: “This first EBL is a key milestone in the further development of our Seohae offshore wind project. As RWE, we are dedicated to delivering clean, sustainable renewable energy and helping to achieve Korea’s renewable energy targets.

“We would like to thank the Korean Government and local stakeholders for their trust in us and for supporting our project.”

RWE will work closely with local communities, industry and partners in South Korea to foster strong relationships and support the region's renewable energy goals.

The next phase for the Seohae offshore wind project involves collaborating with local suppliers to advance engineering and environmental impact assessments.

RWE will also engage with Taean County and the Korea Electric Power Corporation to establish a grid connection agreement.

In December 2023, the company, in a consortium with Mitsui & Co and Osaka Gas, was chosen by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as one of the developers for an offshore wind farm in Niigata prefecture with a planned capacity of 684MW.

Two consortia led by JERA and Sumitomo were selected in the country’s latest wind auction.