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Rapidly phasing out coal by 2028 may lead to power shortage: Taipower

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Connecting Taiwan Globally and Inviting Global Connectivity to Taiwan

Uncensored, Unbiased Assistance on Taiwan's Power Crisis (V2)

Rapidly phasing out coal by 2028 may lead to power shortage: Taipower

Hey there! Let's talk about a hot topic in Taiwan - the potential power crisis due to the closure of the Taichung Power Plant.

Taipower chairman Tseng Wen-sheng recently warned that Taiwan's power supply could take a hit if the Taichung Power Plant phases out coal use by 2028, as it accounts for 14% of the nation's power supply. Lawmakers have approved a motion to this effect, proposing annual carbon reduction plans for the plant as well.

Now, what happens if the Taichung Power Plant, with a capacity of 5.5 million kilowatts, goes coal-free? Well, Tseng suggests considering stable alternative sources of energy to replace this significant power supply.

There are a few potential options on the table:

  1. Gas-fired Units: It's possible to add new gas-fired units to the Taichung Power Plant, with two already scheduled to begin operations by 2025 and 2026.
  2. Renewable Energy Sources: Accelerating the development of solar, wind, and offshore wind energy could help meet the shortfall. However, this would require substantial investment and infrastructure development.
  3. Imports: Taiwan could temporarily import electricity or fuels like liquefied natural gas (LNG) until more sustainable alternatives are operational.
  4. Other Power Plants: Increasing output from other power plants, including nuclear (if allowed by policy), could also help mitigate the impact of the Taichung Plant's coal phase-out.

If the plant shuts down completely by 2028, it could potentially disrupt Taiwan's power system, leading to grid instability and even "paralyzing" the system. Moreover, it could deter investments, especially in high-tech industries that rely on a consistent electricity supply, potentially undermining confidence in the reliability of Taiwan's energy infrastructure.

On the flip side, phasing out coal would contribute to global decarbonization efforts and lead to environmental benefits, like reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. However, Taipower and the Ministry of Economic Affairs have expressed worries about achieving this goal without stable alternative energy sources in place.

Remember, this is just an overview of the situation. For a more comprehensive understanding, delve deeper into the potential alternatives for energy supply and the impact on Taiwan's power system.

[References]1. Investing in renewable energy: https://www.energy-pedia.com/articles/renewable-energy/65440-how-china-is-investing-in-renewable-energy2. Potential power supply disruption: https://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/taiwans-power-shortage-master-tseng-said-could-paralyze-grid/3. Economic impact on high-tech industries: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwans-green-transition-cloud-higher-energy-costs-deep-tech-industry-2021-06-24/4. Importing electricity or LNG: https://www.asiasentinel.com/economics/taiwan-buys-power-to-avoid-coal-crisis/

  1. The closure of the Taichung Power Plant could be a significant blow to Taiwan's power supply, given that it contributes 14% to the nation's energy output, and the industry is exploring renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and offshore wind to compensate for the shortfall.
  2. Accelerated investments in renewable energy infrastructure would help meet the power crisis from the Taichung Power Plant's coal phase-out by 2028, but it could potentially disrupt climate-change negotiations and policy-and-legislation within the government and the environmental-science community.
  3. To account for the impending power crisis, Taipower's chairman, Tseng Wen-sheng, has proposed considering stable alternative energy sources, such as gas-fired units, increasing output from other power plants (including nuclear if policy allows), and temporary electricity or LNG imports as feasible solutions.
  4. While phasing out coal can contribute to lower air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing general-news coverage on the financial implications of these actions is crucial, as concerns have been raised about the economic impact on Taiwan's high-tech industries requiring a consistent electricity supply.
  5. As the Taichung Power Plant phases out coal by 2028, uncertainty looms over the stability of Taiwan's power system, including potential political changes in policy-and-legislation, and the necessity for continuous discussions on energy production, finance, and overall infrastructure development.

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