The National Atomic Research Institute (NARI) has launched a large-scale, four-year small modular reactor research project with a budget exceeding NT$100 million (US$3.3 million).
The research into new nuclear technologies came as the government is slated to decommission the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant's No. 2 reactor in Pingtung County on Saturday, fulfilling its promise to make Taiwan nuclear free.
Small modular reactors are designed to be factory-fabricated and smaller and more modular than traditional nuclear reactors, with a power output of up to 300 megawatts — about one-third the output of a traditional nuclear reactor, according to the International Atomic Energy’s Web site.
Photo: Tsai Tsung-hsien, Taipei Times
Taiwan previously operated three traditional nuclear power plants, supplying about 10 percent of Taiwan’s electricity in 2016. Since December 2018, reactors have been decommissioned as they came to the end of their service life, with Ma-anshan’s No. 2 reactor the only remaining unit.
Since January, that reactor has accounted for about 3.6 percent of the electricity generated by Taiwan Power Co (Taipower).
President William Lai (賴清德) has said he remains open to the use of advanced nuclear technologies as long as three conditions are met: nuclear safety, proper management of nuclear waste and societal consensus.
However, with the decommissioning of the reactors, the number of people proficient in nuclear technology in Taiwan has declined, raising concerns about a potential talent gap.
Nuclear Safety Commission Chairman Chen Min-jen (陳明真) acknowledged the issue in a legislative hearing, saying that a significant amount of nuclear talent has been lost over the past two decades, and that the government needs to cultivate and retain personnel for the sector.
In addition to establishing a training system for current employees, the commission has collaborated with the National Science and Technology Council on formulating a nuclear science and technology research program, he said.
Toward that end, the commission has allocated funding to support academic and research institutions on conducting studies on the safe management of nuclear waste, and the development of nuclear technologies and applications in nuclear and radiological medical science, he said.
The council said it is lobbying the Ministry of Education to add nuclear engineering as a category in publicly funded overseas study programs, offering funding to at least three students per year.
The move is intended to encourage young students to study advanced nuclear technologies abroad, to bolster Taiwan’s research and talent pool, it said.
Anticipating the potential commercial debut of small modular reactors by 2030, NARI said its goal is to provide a reference for industrial or national policies.
The institute also plans to send personnel to countries with advanced nuclear plants, such as in Europe, the US and Japan for training, and to recruit international experts or overseas Taiwanese academics to introduce advanced global technologies and perspectives, it said.
The people recruited from overseas would be integrated with domestic teams to establish a national small modular reactor research team, it said.
Separately, Taipower yesterday said that large-scale, gas-fired power plants with a combined output of 5 gigawatts (GW) would be brought online this year to make up for the closure of the Ma-anshan plant.
That, combined with renewable energy sources, would ensure a stable power supply, it said.
Last month, single-day output from solar energy exceeded 10GW, while wind power exceeded 3GW, together accounting for about one-third of total electricity generation, it said.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) last month said that when the new generators come online, the reserve margin can be maintained at 10 percent during the day and 7 percent at night.
The power supply is expected to remain sufficient through 2032, he added.
Commenting on proposals from opposition party legislators to restart existing nuclear reactors, Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) last week said that if such plans proceed, it would take at least 16 to 18 months due to a number of factors, including the need to repurchase fuel rods.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan would issue a decision at 8pm on whether to cancel work and school tomorrow due to forecasted heavy rain, Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said today. Hsieh told reporters that absent some pressing reason, the four northern cities would announce the decision jointly at 8pm. Keelung is expected to receive between 300mm and 490mm of rain in the period from 2pm today through 2pm tomorrow, Central Weather Administration data showed. Keelung City Government regulations stipulate that school and work can be canceled if rain totals in mountainous or low-elevation areas are forecast to exceed 350mm in
China Airlines Ltd (CAL) yesterday morning joined SkyTeam’s Aviation Challenge for the fourth time, operating a demonstration flight for “net zero carbon emissions” from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok. The flight used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a ratio of up to 40 percent, the highest proportion CAL has achieved to date, the nation’s largest carrier said. Since April, SAF has become available to Taiwanese international carriers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport and Taoyuan airport. In previous challenges, CAL operated “net zero carbon emission flights” to Singapore and Japan. At a ceremony at Taoyuan airport, China Airlines chief sustainability
RSS