TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As Taiwan adjusts its energy policy following the closure of Maanshan Nuclear Plant, Taiwan Power Company held a press conference on Friday.
Amid rising summer temperatures, multiple power outages were reported this week following the decommissioning of Taiwan’s last operational nuclear reactor on May 17. To deal with the diminished energy capacity, electrical grids in southern Taiwan are relying more on coal-fired plants to keep up with increased demand for energy, reported CNA.
On Wednesday, four substations suffered simultaneous power failures due to the increased demand, including substations in Taoyuan, New Taipei, and Taichung. Total power capacity dropped by an estimated 3 million kilowatts, which briefly brought Taiwan’s reserve power supply below the mandated 8% threshold, reported UDN.
After power was restored, Taipower Chair Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) held an impromptu press conference to address power supply issues. He said the probability of so many substations to trip at once is extremely low and that the issue will be thoroughly investigated.
Tseng said that all stations will be repaired and power supply should be stable across Taiwan by the Dragon Boat Festival. As demand for electricity rises over the coming months, Tseng said the company would do its best to keep power supply disruptions to a minimum.
To offset the loss of power supply from Maanshan Nuclear Plant’s closure, Taipower will overhaul Mingtan Hydropower plant in Nantou and the gas-fired Hsingta power plant in Kaohsiung to ensure that Taiwan’s total power reserves remain about the 8% mark.
In addition to rebalancing energy supply following the nuclear plant’s closure, Taipower is also in the midst of a campaign to boost resilience and security of the electric grid, which has caused some disruptions to power supply. The company has been upgrading equipment at substations and installing new smart-meters to safeguard Taiwan’s electricity infrastructure.
