TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Following the decommissioning of Taiwan’s last nuclear reactor, state-run Taipower has turned to backup coal- and gas-fired generators to maintain electricity supply during critical shortages.
The company has activated two coal-fired generators at Kaohsiung’s Hsinta Power Plant and a gas-fired unit at the nearby Dalin Power Plant, drawing criticism from lawmakers and environmental groups. The generators, which lack formal operating permits, are designated for emergency use only. The gas-fired unit has already been activated eight times since being decommissioned in 2022, per UDN.
Taipower Vice President Tsai Chih-meng (蔡志孟) said the 50-year-old gas-fired Unit 5 at Dalin is part of an emergency standby program and can be used when the grid’s reserve capacity falls below 6%. Regulations cap its annual usage at 720 hours, and it has currently operated for 178 hours this year.
Southern Taiwan Anti-Air Pollution Alliance spokesperson Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀菊) warned that the frequent restarting of aging units poses air pollution and safety risks. She also criticized Taipower for failing to notify nearby residents, saying such actions leave communities unprepared in case of an accident.
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chen Li-na (陳麗娜) said Taipower’s actions are a despicable move and accused the company of jeopardizing public health. She also faulted the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, and the city government for staying silent.
Chen added that the use of backup units in April and May could signal continued reliance on them through the summer, undermining Taiwan’s net-zero goals and exposing weaknesses in energy planning.
Fellow City Councilor Chiu Yu-hsuang (邱于軒) questioned whether the move indicated a power shortage or a lack of grid resilience. “Kaohsiung residents are not second-class citizens,” she said, demanding access to clean air.
In response, Kaohsiung’s Environmental Protection Bureau said it had been notified ahead of time and dispatched personnel to monitor emissions. Taipower’s Tsai reiterated that the use of emergency units is legally capped at 30 days per year, and all emissions have so far remained within regulatory limits.
