Nighttime power supply was criticized by the Legislative Yuan. Taipower: Prepare 3 million kilowatts during the two-year transition period to maintain a safety buffer

Taipower emphasized that it has the green light to supply power this summer. (Photo by reporter Lin Jinghua)

[Reporter Lin Jinghua/Taipei Report] Regarding the Legislative Yuan Budget Center’s concern about future power supply issues, Taipower stated on the 27th that it will be fully green-lighted from July to October this summer, and that Taichung New Gas Units 1 and 2 and Xingda New Gas Units 2 and 3 will join the power supply ranks this year, with a total installation capacity of 5.2 million kilowatts, ensuring a stable supply target.

According to a report from the Legislative Yuan Budget Center, the statutory target for the reserve capacity rate of my country's power supply is 15%, but Taipower has failed to meet the target for five consecutive years. The report also said that by 2028, the nighttime reserve capacity rate is expected to fall below 10% for two consecutive years. Taipower explained in this regard that the government has planned to add approximately 26 million gas-fired power units between 2026 and 2035. Facing the critical transition period from 2028 to 2029, Taipower estimates that the nighttime backup capacity in the past two years is still more than 3 million kilowatts, which is equivalent to the size of 2 to 3 large-scale gas compound cycle units. The overall power supply can still maintain a considerable safety buffer.

Regarding the long-term power reserve capacity ratio, Taipower continues to maintain stable power supply through strategies such as strengthening supply-side flexibility, diversified dispatch, deepening demand-side management, establishing emergency backup power mechanisms, and operating existing units. For the critical power connection period in the future, Taipower will continue this experience and further improve nighttime power supply preparations by further extending the service of existing units, renewing contracts of private power plants, strengthening pumped water storage capacity, and flexibly adjusting overhaul schedules and demand response. In the future, as Taichung, Xingda, Tongxiao, Dalin, Xiehe and other new gas-fired units are gradually put into system operation, the nighttime reserve capacity rate will remain stable at more than 15% after 2030.

Taipower emphasized that energy transformation and power supply development need to be advanced step by step. The power supply plan after 2030 is not only sufficient to support my country's continued growth in industrial power demand, but also can further enhance the resilience of the overall power system. Taipower will continue to communicate closely with the industry, continuously review the system supply and demand situation, and actively plan and promote power supply development and power grid construction.