Geothermal Energy Resources and Power Plants in Taiwan
Researchers of Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) and Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) of Taiwan made a good paper presentation in the recently concluded 30th Annual Geothermal Energy Conference in Manila, Philippines on March 11-12, 2009. The event was sponsored by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
The group of researchers made an update, as well as, discusses the history of the geothermal energy development in Taiwan.
It’s unfortunately, according to the presenters that the generation mix of renewable energy in Taiwan is insignificantly below 1%, without any contribution coming from geothermal energy.
Taiwan, like other some geothermal energy producing countries like Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, USA, and Mexico, lie along the “Pacific Ring of Fire”. However, it is ironic that Taiwan has zero energy production coming from geothermal energy, although, Taiwan had a 3 MW Geothermal Power Plant – The Chingshui Power Plant, but already decommissioned in 1993 due to the decline in steam production, the presenters discussed.
Although currently, there is no energy production in Taiwan, based on a study conducted in 1994, the country has a total of 714 MWe geothermal energy potential in the 6 various locations being surveyed, majority of which, or 514 MWe, is located in Taitung area. The geothermal steam in Taitung area, however, is volcanic and was found to be acidic and may not be suitable for geothermal power plant. The temperature of the surveyed geothermal steam resources ranged from 160 deg C to 245 deg C.
The history of the development of Chingshui Geothermal Power Plant
In July 1981, the 3 MW Chingshui Power Plant was constructed. The geothermal steam field resource had 19 wells (production and exploration) and had a steam temperature of up to around 220 deg C. However, due to the decline in the steam production which was attributed to various reasons like the absence of re-injection system, the power plant was decommissioned in 1993.
In the 2007 – 2008 re-evaluation of the geothermal steam resource in the ChingShui Area, the commissioned researchers discovered an around 4 – 10 MWe geothermal resource potential for 25 – 30 years. Efforts to workover the old wells are being conducted to re-commission the said geothermal field and power plant.
Filed in: Geothermal Energy
Local date: September, 2010
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