Seoul City and private partners began to operate the largest solar power plant in the metropolis Tuesday as part of efforts to boost the electricity supply and increase the use of clean, renewable energy sources.

The 5-megawatt plant marks the first phase of a joint project by the municipal government, chemicals and utility firm OCI, and environmental civic group Energy & Peace to build a combined 100-MW solar power stations in the city by 2014.

The Amsa plant, located on a 76,800-square-meter site ― equivalent to 10 soccer fields ― will generate 6,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, enough to supply power to 1,830 households.

The facility is expected to help reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2,700 tons, which is equal to 1.6 million liters of gasoline.

OCI and Energy & Peace invested a combined 13.7 billion won ($12.3 million) in the construction which lasted six months.

They will be in charge of operating and managing the plant for 20 years.

They signed a memorandum of understanding with the city for the solar power project in September 2012.

The city is expected to earn 125 million won in lease fees every year.

Solar panels were placed over a water purification plant. The city plans to expand the capacity to 6.2 MW by the end of the year, making it the largest solar energy plant in the country.

The city is planning to build additional solar power stations at 20 other public facilities in the remainder of the year to raise the capacity to 25 MW.

By Lee Hyun-jeong  (rene@heraldcorp.com)