Taiwan mulls first geothermal plant

2014-12-23

The Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and New Taipei City’s Economic Development Department are planning to erect a geothermal plant in the Datun Mountain range, according to the municipal government Dec. 22.

Covering 450 hectares of city land owned by the central and local governments, the facility will be Taiwan’s first geothermal plant and the second such endeavor following the one started in Yilan County but suspended in 2012 over environmental concerns.

Citing a study by the state-sponsored Industry Technology Research Institute, the EDD said the total installed capacity of the power plant could reach 100 megawatts.

“During the initial stage, the goal will be capacity of 10 MW, producing up to 68.5 megawatt-hours of electricity per year—enough for 16,000 households,” a department official said.

The BOE has earmarked NT$30 million (US$1 million) for an exploration well to be dug in the second half of 2015, with drilling for the first full-scale production well set for early 2016.

According to ITRI’s Green Energy and Environment Research Laboratories, geothermal energy produces no carbon emissions and can serve as a baseload power source given its highly stable nature.

“With recent advancements in related technology, geothermal energy should be considered a priority as Taiwan strives to develop its own energy sources,” an ITRI researcher said.

Sources familiar with the matter said total investment in the facility is expected to top NT$2.4 billion, with several domestic and foreign firms already expressing interest in the initiative.

Since the plant is located on public land outside Yangmingshan National Park, the project will involve relatively few administrative complexities and is expected to have less of an effect on the environment, sources added.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=225433&CtNode=413)