Taiwan to Boost Windpower by More Than 5-Fold
Date: 28-Sep-07
Country: CHINA
Taiwan, which must import over 98 percent of its fuel needs now, is hoping to boost its off-shore windpower generation to as much as 1,200 megawatts (MW) from 217.2 MW now, said the energy bureau.
"Taiwan has an abundant source of wind, which makes it a good source of energy," Yeh Huey-ching, energy minister, told a news conference.
Energy officials have said that local opposition to new fossil fuel-fired power plants and delays in constructing a fourth nuclear power plant could cause power reserve levels to fall dangerously in coming years if new generating capacity is not built.
As of August, electricity from the 127 wind power units in operation only accounted for 0.4 percent of total installed capacity, compared to 32.6 percent for coal and 31.8 percent for natural gas, according to the state utility, the Taiwan Power Company.
Another 610 MW worth of wind power -- or 305 units -- are either under construction or being planned, said the bureau, without giving details.
In the first phase, the government will open bidding, including partnerships between foreign and local firms, to supply 300 MW of power, said Yeh.
"We believe that local firms will be able to supply components for these turbines," said Yeh.
The electricity will be sold to Taipower at a price of around T$2 per kilowatt-hour, although a final figure is yet to be determined, pending approval by parliament, said energy officials.
Most of the wind power units are expected to be located on the island's West coast and on the outlying island of Penghu, which will feed power to the main island via an undersea cable, said Yeh.
Taiwan's government has set a target that alternative energy will provide 10 percent of installed power generation on the resource poor island by 2010, up from between 3-5 percent currently.
(US$1 = T$32.8)