The reserve margin yesterday recovered to more than 6 percent after 8pm, and the overall power supply remains stable, Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) said in a statement today, after the reserve margin dropped to 4 percent during the evening peak yesterday.
The drop in power reserves was temporary, Taipower said, adding that it is leveraging its hydroelectric resources, considering that two potential typhoons are expected to bring significant rainfall to the nation.
Taipower had activated all five of its standby units at its two power plants in Kaohsiung, as its operating reserves dropped below 6 percent due to the hot weather and mechanical failures, the company said yesterday.
Photo: Lin Ching-hua, Taipei Times
Four old coal-powered generators at the Hsinta Power Plant and one gas-powered unit at the Talin Power Plant have been activated to maintain an adequate reserve level during nighttime peak hours, Taipower said.
Power reserves yesterday morning dropped to 9.06 percent, triggering a "yellow light" warning, due to increased electricity usage over several consecutive hot days in northern Taiwan, the company said.
In addition, solar power output fell in southern Taiwan because of overcast skies and rainy weather in the afternoon, it said.
Reserves fell to 4 percent, Taipower said last night.
The situation was exacerbated by a power deficit of 2,900 megawatts caused by problems at the Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung and the Linkou Power Plant in New Taipei City, the company said.
Hsinta Power Plant's new natural gas unit has been shut down since Sept. 11 when a fire broke out there due to a gas leak, while the Linkou Power Plant's Unit 2 on Monday went offline after a system malfunction, followed by its Unit 1 on Tuesday as a result of a pipe leak, Taipower said.
A power reserve of more than 10 percent is considered "safe," while a reserve of 6 to 10 percent triggers a "yellow light" warning, and below 6 percent prompts an "orange light" warning, likely resulting in power rationing, Taipower's Web site says.
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