As Taiwan promotes its energy transition, the proportion of renewable energy is gradually increasing, while traditional power facilities are being decommissioned. However, the public has grown increasingly concerned over the stability of Taiwan’s power system. Amid this transition, Taiwan’s emergency power generators serve as silent guardians, playing an indispensable role that must not be misrepresented.
With Taiwan’s solar power capacity exceeding 14 gigawatts (GW), with wind power capacity at 4GW, the pressure on the power supply during peak daytime hours has largely been resolved, but that pressure is shifting to meet nighttime demand. During peak usage periods over the summer, nighttime loads can exceed 37GW.
Even though response measures could decrease the load by 3 to 5 percent, several unpredictable challenges remain, such as natural disasters, human error or sabotage disrupting power plants. In such situations, emergency generators play a critical role in providing flexibility and ensuring the security of the power supply.
According to regulations set by Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) and government agencies, emergency units are only activated when the projected power supply margin falls below 6 percent, or when sudden power shortages occur due to accidents, natural disasters or national security issues.
The emergency units — such as the Talin Power Plant and the No. 3 and No. 4 coal-fired generators at the Hsinta Power Plant, all in Kaohsiung — are characterized by their fast ignition, limited duration and environmentally friendly operation.
In accordance with environmental regulations, the units are capped at 720 operational hours per year and must comply with seasonal air quality controls, including mandatory shutdowns during winter, when pollution is more severe.
The units are only activated when absolutely necessary and their cost per kilowatt-hour is slightly higher. However, labor and maintenance costs are considered pre-existing expenses, and thus require no additional expenditure. Additionally, their operational hours can be controlled, making them the optimal solution for managing risk at minimal cost.
With regard to their effect on the environment, more advanced renewable energy and energy storage technologies — equipped with high-efficiency, low-emission combined cycle gas turbines — would take over in the future, achieving the dual objectives of air pollution control and energy transition.
Although we all hope for affordable and low-pollution energy sources, we must recognize the real-world challenges associated with Taiwan’s energy transition. In the face of multiple uncertainties, such as extreme weather and possible equipment failure, the outright rejection of coal or gas-fired emergency units could greatly increase the risk of sudden power outages, and ultimately slow the progress of the energy transition.
The role of citizens should be to pragmatically monitor such units, to ensure their compliance with environmental regulations, rather than spreading politicized attacks and misinformation. More importantly, we must not ignore the reality that real-time power supply information has been available online for several years, and significant progress has already been made in reducing air pollution.
Instead, opposition members have continued to spread politicized rhetoric accusing Taipower of “secretly operating” decommissioned fossil fuel power plants and powering the nation “with our lungs.” The ideals of Taiwan’s energy transition can only be achieved if society fully and properly understands its role.
Chen Bing-heng is a doctoral candidate in the College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography at National Dong Hwa University.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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