Gas turbines, SMRs, offshore wind: Building three pillars of energy infrastructure
Reverse exports to the U.S., the birthplace of gas turbines, underscore its rise as an infrastructure powerhouse
(From left) A 380MW-class gas turbine developed and manufactured by Doosan Enerbility, and an 8MW offshore wind turbine (DS205-8MW) independently developed by the company using domestic technology. <Doosan Enerbility>
During the Moon Jae-in administration, Doosan Enerbility at one point faced questions over its very survival as the government’s nuclear phase-out policy collided with a liquidity crisis. But the company has recently staged a dramatic turnaround, posting major wins such as a nuclear power contract in the Czech Republic and exports of power-generation gas turbines to the United States. At the center of that reversal is Chairman Park Gee-won, who also serves as vice chairman of Doosan Group. Rather than relying solely on nuclear power, Park has made long-term investments in next-generation energy technologies including gas turbines, small modular reactors (SMRs), and hydrogen turbines. Insight Korea examined Park’s leadership, the transformation of Doosan’s energy business, and the significance of that shift.
[Insight Korea = Reporter Sim Min-hyeon]
A global surge in electricity demand driven by the rapid spread of the artificial intelligence industry is quickly reshaping the energy landscape. In particular, as global big tech companies ramp up competition to build large-scale data centers, the importance of power infrastructure capable of ensuring stable electricity supply is growing.
Against this backdrop, Doosan Enerbility is accelerating its push into next-generation power infrastructure markets through an “energy triangle” strategy centered on gas turbines, small modular reactors (SMRs), and offshore wind power. Its goal is to build an energy portfolio spanning nuclear, gas, and renewables and position itself as a key supplier in the era of global energy transition.
A 380MW-class gas turbine developed and manufactured by Doosan Enerbility. <Doosan Enerbility>
Beyond localization: Reverse exports to the U.S. boost profile amid AI-driven power demand
According to industry sources on the 13th, Doosan Enerbility has been posting meaningful results in its power-generation gas turbine business since last year and is now making a full-fledged push into the global market. Power-generation gas turbines require highly advanced technology comparable to aircraft engines, and the market has effectively been dominated by a small number of companies including General Electric of the U.S., Siemens Energy of Germany, and Mitsubishi Power of Japan. That has made it an especially difficult industry for latecomers to enter.
Undeterred, Doosan Enerbility began developing a Korean-style power-generation gas turbine with government support in 2013. After six years of research and development, it succeeded in localizing a 380MW-class large gas turbine in 2019, becoming the first Korean company to enter the commercialization stage.
About seven years after commercialization, the company this year signed a supply contract for a 380MW-class gas turbine project with a U.S. company believed to be tied to xAI, the AI startup founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. In doing so, it achieved reverse exports to the United States, widely seen as the birthplace of gas turbines. It had also exported two units and three units, respectively, to U.S. big tech firms in October and December last year.
As AI data centers spread and power demand surges, the importance of gas-fired generation based on gas turbines is coming back into focus. Because renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are subject to output fluctuations, demand is rising for gas-fired power as a backup source. Industry observers say Doosan Enerbility has secured a new growth engine in the global power equipment market through its gas turbine business.
A rendering of a NuScale Power SMR plant. <NuScale Power>
SMR market enters full-scale growth phase as production base buildout accelerates
Doosan Enerbility’s SMR business, aimed at the next-generation nuclear market, is also a core pillar of its strategy. Compared with conventional large nuclear plants, SMRs are smaller and can be manufactured in modular form, significantly reducing construction time and costs. As the U.S. and Europe discuss a wider range of applications — from powering data centers to serving as industrial power sources — expectations for market growth are rising rapidly.
In this field, Doosan Enerbility is pursuing a strategy to strengthen its role as a global foundry, or specialized manufacturing company. It has built partnerships with major SMR developers including NuScale Power, X-energy, and TerraPower in the U.S., taking on the manufacture of key primary components and materials such as reactor pressure vessels and steam generators. The company is also pushing ahead with construction of a dedicated SMR factory, targeted for completion in 2028, and is expected to build a system capable of producing more than 20 units annually once it begins operations.
Doosan Enerbility already possesses manufacturing capabilities for key primary components used in large nuclear plants, including reactor pressure vessels and steam generators. On that technological foundation, it has accumulated production expertise for SMR equipment as well. The company is also building a dedicated production system to handle SMR manufacturing going forward. Industry analysts say that once the specialized production system is completed, standardized and modularized manufacturing tailored to SMR characteristics will become possible, improving both supply responsiveness and production efficiency.
The policy environment is also turning more favorable for the expansion of the SMR industry. The National Assembly recently passed the Special Act on the Promotion and Support of Small Modular Reactor Development, laying the groundwork for fostering the related industry. The government plans to establish a basic plan every five years and invest about 1.2 trillion won by 2030 in designing core technologies for three domestically developed SMR models. If domestic demonstration projects, licensing procedures, and special-zone designations gain momentum, business opportunities could expand across the entire value chain, including design, construction, primary equipment manufacturing, and materials and components.
Doosan Enerbility’s 10MW offshore wind turbine, the first in Korea to obtain type certification from international certification body UL. <Doosan Enerbility>
Larger offshore wind turbines target renewable energy market
The company is also making its presence felt in offshore wind power. As major countries around the world pursue carbon neutrality policies and offshore wind investment rises rapidly, Doosan Enerbility is simultaneously advancing turbine technology and expanding production capacity.
Doosan Enerbility currently produces a range of offshore wind turbine models, including 3MW-, 6MW-, 8MW-, and 10MW-class units. Smaller turbines are better suited to regions with lower and more variable wind speeds, while larger turbines are more efficient in waters with faster and more consistent winds. Its wide product lineup — spanning from 3MW small turbines to 10MW large turbines — is seen as a competitive strength that enables the company to respond to a variety of offshore environments at home and abroad.
Doosan Enerbility entered the wind turbine market in 2005, during its days as Doosan Heavy Industries, and has since accumulated experience in manufacturing and installing 3MW- and 5.5MW-class offshore wind turbines. It installed 10 units of 3MW turbines at the Tamra Offshore Wind Farm in Jeju, 18 units of 5.5MW turbines at the Hallim Offshore Wind Farm in Jeju, and 20 units of 3MW turbines at the Southwest Offshore Demonstration Complex.
More recently, the company signed a contract to supply 13 units of 8MW offshore wind turbines to the Yawol Offshore Wind Farm in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province, which is scheduled for completion in March 2029. It is also pursuing technical cooperation with global wind power company Siemens Gamesa on a 15MW ultra-large offshore wind turbine. In other words, it is now shifting its main product focus toward larger wind turbines.
A company official said, “As electricity demand rises rapidly with the spread of AI, building stable power infrastructure is becoming increasingly important,” adding, “Based on our competitiveness in a range of power-generation facilities including gas turbines, SMRs, and offshore wind, we will actively respond to the global energy transition market.”
-This article was translated by ChatGPT. (이 기사는 챗GPT가 번역했습니다.)
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