Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) yesterday said that the nation would still have an electricity reserve margin of 12.5 percent to maintain a stable power supply once Unit 1 at the Linkou coal-fired power plant in New Taipei City begins commercial operations this summer as expected.
Taipower was responding to media reports that Taiwan might face a risk of power outages this summer due to the delay of two power plant projects.
Annual power reserve capacity margin refers to a utility’s capacity to generate more electricity than the total power the system normally requires.
According to media reports, Taipower had originally planned to complete renewal projects at Unit 2 of the Talin power plant in Kaohsiung and Unit 2 of the Linkou power plant with a total capacity of 1,600MW this summer.
However, due to a delay in the projects and the postponed replacement of old power generation units at the Talin plant, the reserve margin could go from positive to negative, raising the risk of power outages in the nation this summer, the reports said.
Taipower said that Unit 1 at the Linkou power plant, which was scheduled to start operation in November last year, was suspended due to a ruptured pipe during testing. It is to resume testing tomorrow.
The unit is set to go into operation this summer and run at full capacity next summer, the company said.
To ensure a stable supply of electricity this summer, in addition to improving power plant operations and maintenance, Taipower is to continue to promote electricity conservation measures and the reduction of power consumption during peak hours and explore new methods for power generation, the company said.
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