Taipower gears for USD 590m wind power bonanza

(ADPnews) – Sep 17, 2010 - State-run utility Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) plans to infuse TWD 18.7 billion (USD 590m/EUR 449m) into the construction of 289 MW of wind farms over a 100-year timeframe.

Works on the 162 generators, which will be installed in phases, will commence by 2011, the company said in a statement yesterday. Annual electricity output from the new facilities is estimated at 826 million kWh, enough to prevent 350,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from being spewed into the atmosphere.

Wind power has played a pivotal role in Taipower’s efforts to curb its carbon footprint, delivering a reduction of up to 900,000 tonnes a year over the past decade. During the last ten years, the company’s 130 installed wind energy units banged out 1.44 billion kWh of electricity.

Furthermore, Taipower will tap into solar electricity, planning to bring on stream 10 MW of capacity over the 100-year timescale. The aim is to produce 12.5 GW of clean energy, while lowering CO2 emissions by 5,400 tonnes each year.

The utility is already in talks with state-owned Taiwan Sugar Corp on leasing 21 hectares (51.89 acres) of land in Tainan County to build a 5 MW solar power park that could slash annual CO2 emissions by 4,678 tonnes.

Bereft of its own natural resources, Taiwan relies on imports to get 99% of its energy supplies and is therefore keen to promote renewable energy to reduce dependence. In June 2009, the country passed legislation to encourage the use of renewable energy, boost energy diversification and cut greenhouse gases, according to the Bureau of Energy.

By 2025, Taiwan plans to source 15% of its energy needs from renewables.

(TWD 1.0 = USD 0.032/EUR 0.024)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!