Taichung power station
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Taichung power station (臺灣電力台中發電廠, 台中火力發電廠) is an operating power station of at least 5780-megawatts (MW) in Taichung, Longjing, Taiwan with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating. It is also known as Zhonghuo.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Taichung power station | Taichung, Longjing, Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan | 24.212265, 120.485459 (exact)[1] |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- 1, 2, 3, 4, CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, CC5, CC6: 24.212265, 120.485459
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8: 24.2131, 120.485
- Unit 10, Unit 11, Unit 12, Unit 9: 24.2194242, 120.4731345
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | CHP | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Operating[2] | fossil liquids: light fuel oil[2] | 70[3] | gas turbine[3] | not found | 1980[3] | 2028 (planned)[4] |
| 2 | Operating[2] | fossil liquids: light fuel oil[2] | 70[3] | gas turbine[3] | not found | 1980[3] | 2028 (planned)[4] |
| 3 | Operating[2] | fossil liquids: light fuel oil[2] | 70[3] | gas turbine[3] | not found | 1980[3] | 2028 (planned)[4] |
| 4 | Operating[2] | fossil liquids: light fuel oil[2] | 70[3] | gas turbine[3] | not found | 1980[3] | 2028 (planned)[4] |
| CC1 | Construction[5] | fossil gas: LNG[6][7] | 1300[7][5] | combined cycle[8][7] | not found | 2025 (planned)[8][7] | – |
| CC2 | Construction[5] | fossil gas: LNG[6][7] | 1300[7][5] | combined cycle[8][7] | not found | 2026 (planned)[8][7] | – |
| CC3 | Announced[9][10] | fossil gas: LNG[11][7] | 1375[9][10] | combined cycle[9][10] | not found | – | – |
| CC4 | Announced[10] | fossil gas: LNG[11][7] | 1375[9][10] | combined cycle[9][10] | not found | – | – |
| CC5 | Announced[9][10] | fossil gas: LNG[11][7] | 1375[9][10] | combined cycle[9][10] | not found | – | – |
| CC6 | Announced[9] | fossil gas: LNG[11][7] | 1375[9][10] | combined cycle[9][10] | not found | – | – |
| Unit 1 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 1991 | 2026 (planned)[12] |
| Unit 10 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 2006 | 2035 (planned) |
| Unit 11 | Cancelled | coal: bituminous | 800 | unknown | – | – | – |
| Unit 12 | Cancelled | coal: bituminous | 800 | unknown | – | – | – |
| Unit 2 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 1991 | 2026 (planned)[12] |
| Unit 3 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 1992 | 2035 (planned) |
| Unit 4 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 1992 | 2035 (planned) |
| Unit 5 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 1996 | 2035 (planned) |
| Unit 6 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 1996 | 2035 (planned) |
| Unit 7 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 1996 | 2035 (planned) |
| Unit 8 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 1997 | 2035 (planned) |
| Unit 9 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 550 | subcritical | – | 2005 | 2035 (planned) |
CHP is an abbreviation for Combined Heat and Power. It is a technology that produces electricity and thermal energy at high efficiencies. Coal units track this information in the Captive Use section when known.
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| 2 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| 3 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| 4 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| CC1 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| CC2 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| CC3 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| CC4 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| CC5 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| CC6 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 1 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 10 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 11 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 12 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 5 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 6 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 7 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 8 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
| Unit 9 | Taiwan Power Co [100%][7][13] | Taiwan Power Co [100.0%] |
Background
Taichung power station is one of the the top ten biggest coal plants in the world.
Two gas combined cycle units, each with a capacity of 1,300MW, are currently under construction at the plant site.[14]
Taichung power station consists of ten 550 MW coal-burning units, making it the world's largest coal-fired power plant.[15]
Four original units were commissioned in 1991-1992. In 1996-1997, four additional units were added. The eight older units have a total estimated coal requirement of around 12 million tons of bituminous coal and 2.5 million tons of sub-bituminous coal a year. In June 2005 and June 2006, 550 MW sub-critical pressure units 9 and 10 were installed. Coal is received through the Taichung Port.[16] The power station and port are located on the Dadu River Estuary, an important habitat for the critically endangered Taiwanese white dolphin.[17]
In September 2022, Taipower discussed strategy changes aimed at avoiding outages like what occurred at the Hsinta power station in March 2022. They would attempt a distributed microgrid method, which reduces interregional power supplies and increases resilience. Taichung power station would supply the Central Taiwan Science Park. The company planned to invest NT$564.5 billion (US$18.13 billion) towards this goal over ten years.[18]
Public opposition, fines, and closures
In November 2015, in response to public protests, Taipower and the local government agreed the plant would cut generation when particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution hit 71 micrograms per cubic meter at most of the 11 monitoring stations in the city. Taiwan Healthy Air Action Alliance argued the plant should cut generation three days ahead of predicted peak pollution days and demanded the utility switch to cleaner generation. In March 2016, the city government requested Taipower lower output at the plant when the index for PM2.5 hit “extremely high” levels.[19]
In November 2019, Taipower said three of the plant's units had been put on suspension, while several others had also cut back on power generation. The company said it expected the annual consumption of coal at the Taichung plant to fall below the 16 million ton per year cap mandated by the city government to limit pollution.[20]
In December 2019, the Taichung City Government revoked the operating permit for units 2 & 3 of the power station effective January 1, 2020, saying operation exceeded the city's coal consumption cap. In February 2020, the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nullified the city decision, saying it did not find evidence of violation. On June 24, 2020, Taipower restarted unit 2. City officials responded by suing the plant owner and threatening jail time, saying the EPA's decision had not yet been approved by the executive branch meaning the city's ban on the operation of units 2 and 3 were still in effect.[21]
In July 2020, unit 1 of the power station also resumed operation.[22]
In April 2021, Taipower once again said that it would contest a NT$20 million (US$ 703,556) fine imposed by the Taichung City Government for restarting unit 3 without obtaining prior approval. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen defended the city’s decision to fine Taipower as “fighting for the health of Taichung residents.”[23]
An April 2021 article in Aerosol and Air Quality Research evaluated the "Impact of Air Pollutants Emitted by Taichung Power Plant on Atmospheric PM2.5 in Central Taiwan", finding that periods of extreme pollution were not uncommon in the Taichung area.[24]
Clean Air Taichung wanted the plant closed by 2030, and NGO groups remained hopeful the government will embrace alternatives to the proposed additional gas units.[25]
In December 2023, several environmental groups called on the local government to demand the phasing out of coal at Taichung power station by the end of 2026.[26]
In April 2024, Air Clean Taiwan called for the closure of Taichung power station by 2028.[27]
Decommissioning plans
In January 2021, the Parliament of Taiwan adopted a resolution to accelerate the decommissioning of the power plant. The ten 550 megawatt coal-fired units are to be retired by 2035 instead of 2046 as initially planned by Taipower. The subcritical coal units are to be preserved as a national security emergency reserve. Four gas-fired power plants are to be built on the site to replace the coal units, though a commissioning date for these new plants is unclear.[25]
In March 2021, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen demanded that instead of holding four coal-fired units in reserve after the two new gas-fired ones go into operation, Taipower should scrap the four coal-fired generators altogether.[28]
In January 2023, it was reported that Taipower planned to decommission units 1-2 at Taichung power station before 2030. Units 3-4 would be placed on standby, but would be considered for decommissioning before 2030 as well, if the gas-fired units under construction were successfully operating.[29] Two gas-fired units were expected to be in service by 2026, after which the power station would reportedly adopt an operation mode of "2 gas and 6 coal" units.[30] The Vice President of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan had proposed that the six remaining coal-fired units (units 5-10) be decommissioned by 2035.[29]
In May 2023, it was reported that two units (presumably Units 1 and 2) would be shut down in 2026.[31] A January 2024 update from the International Trade Administration also reported that the coal-fired Units 1 and 2 would retire in 2026.[32]
In November 2024, Taiwan Power Co publicly committed to phasing out all of the remaining coal-fired units at Taichung power station by 2034.[33] However, Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-ta specified that the last six coal units would be available for use "in cases of national security or natural disasters" after 2034, indicating that the units would be on standby rather than conclusively retired.
Coal storage
In January 2023, it was reported that Taipower was considering increasing its coal reserve from 40-42 days to 50 days, and looking into potential locations for storage in the event of a blockade. A partial blockade was imposed around Taiwan when China carried out drills in August 2022. Possible coal storage sites included Linkou power station and Taichung power station.[34]
Description of Expansion
Taipower said there was an expansion plan to build two new 800 MW units at the power station by 2016,[35][36] later pushed to 2021.[37]
However, as of 2015, the proposed new units are not listed in Taipower's 2014 Annual Report,[38] nor on the company's list of projects under construction.[39] The expansion appears to be deferred or abandoned.
In February 2016, Cai Qichang, Vice President of the legislature, said that Units 11 and 12 will be natural gas generation and that Units 1-10 will be gradually retired.[40]
The construction of Taichung gas generating units was blocked by the Taichung City Urban Design Review Committee for 15 months, leading to slow progress on Taiwan’s "gas-to-coal" exchange. However, in June 2021, the Minister of Economy Wang Meihua said that the National Construction Agency determined that the station's expansion would not need to pass local reviews and should be underway as soon as possible so that the new gas units can be online by 2025 and 2026.[41]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20210423000311/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2021/01/30/2003751431. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 https://web.archive.org/web/20220710203705/https://www.taipower.com.tw/tc/page.aspx?mid=202&cid=130&cchk=f8fb50ec-6465-4637-a2d6-97c05646ada6. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 https://web.archive.org/web/20220812081648/https://www.taipower.com.tw/tc/news_noclassify_info.aspx?id=2876&chk=81ef2cf6-f705-4202-a3b2-00d3b53590e3&mid=334¶m=pn%3D1%26mid%3D334%26key%3D. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220625195514/https://www.taipower.com.tw/tc/page.aspx?mid=212&cid=122&cchk=260a432c-fc0e-47e0-a90e-2bc0cc52cb61. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220413224201/https://www.taipower.com.tw/tc/topic/2021_tcpp/data/%E8%AB%8B%E6%94%AF%E6%8C%81%E5%8F%B0%E4%B8%AD%E5%A2%9E%E6%B0%A3%E8%A8%88%E7%95%AB.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20211020072635/https://www.offshore-energy.biz/ctci-scores-647-million-taichung-lng-terminal-contract/. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 7.33 https://web.archive.org/web/20240125195945/https://www.taipower.com.tw/tc/page.aspx?cchk=b6134cc6-838c-4bb9-b77a-0b0094afd49d&cid=406&mid=206. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20221112104515/https://www.taipower.com.tw/en/page.aspx?mid=4508. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 https://web.archive.org/web/20240126131057/https://www.taipower.com.tw/tc/news2_info.aspx?mid=225&id=6748&chk=5f3fa1ed-e199-428c-88ca-e95b0393f2aa. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 https://web.archive.org/web/20240604174814/https://money.udn.com/money/story/5612/7931320. Archived from the original on 04 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 https://www.ctee.com.tw/news/20230414700270-430104.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20240524000110/https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/taiwan-electric-power-equipment-elp-and-energy. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 13.15 13.16 13.17 13.18 13.19 13.20 13.21 https://web.archive.org/web/20240126131044/https://eiadoc.moenv.gov.tw/eiaforum/40_View.aspx?para=41D98611606F35A3E6F338E9D6A11EC8D96BE3A50F5B84E65F9F64F7589C75FF. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "請支持台中增氣計畫" Taipower, 2021
- ↑ "Coal-Fired Plants in Taiwan," Coal-fired power plants around the world, accessed January 2014
- ↑ "Taichung Coal-Fired Power Plant, Taiwan," Net Resources, power-technology.com, accessed July 10, 2009
- ↑ "Yet Another Threat to Taiwanese White Dolphins Is Imminent," IUCN - SSC Cetacean Specialist Group, January 5, 2023
- ↑ "Taipower unveils power resiliency plan," Taipei Times, September 16, 2022
- ↑ "As PM2.5 rises, plant cuts output," Taipei Times, March 7, 2016
- ↑ "Taiwan's Taipower takes steps to cut coal consumption at Taichung plant," Taiwan News, November 4, 2019
- ↑ [https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/ch/news/3954457 "連續稽查 台灣電力公司啟動中火2號機「燃煤發電」, 最高裁罰2千萬, June 27, 2020
- ↑ "Taipower Restarted No. 1 Coal Unit of Taichung Power Plant in Preparation for a New Record High in Summer Electricity Consumption," energytrend.com, July 21, 2020
- ↑ "Taipower to challenge fine for restarting generator," Taipei Times, April 8, 2021
- ↑ "Impact of Air Pollutants Emitted by Taichung Power Plant on Atmospheric PM2.5 in Central Taiwan," Aerosol and Air Quality Research, April 2021
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Shih Hsiao-kuang, Chen Yun and Jonathan Chin, "Taichung coal power resolution passed," Taipei Times, January 30, 2021
- ↑ "Environmental groups urge Taichung Power Plant to go coal free by end of 2026," Focus Taiwan, December 24, 2023
- ↑ "NGOs call for phase-out of coal-fired power generation by 2028," Taiwan News, April 22, 2024
- ↑ "Taichung, Taipower at odds over coal-fired units at power plant," Focus Taiwan, March 21, 2021
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 "煤電2成 2030年11部燃煤機組退場," HouseFun News, January 1, 2023
- ↑ "駁郭台銘「肺癌說」 台電：中火減煤近600萬噸," Radio Taiwan International, May 1, 2023
- ↑ Taipower says they have reduced coal burning despite claims by Terry Gou, Radio Taiwan International, May 1, 2023
- ↑ Electric Power Equipment (ELP) and Energy, International Trade Administration, January 10, 2024
- ↑ Taichung Power Plant to shift from coal to natural gas by end of 2035: premier, Taipei Times, November 10, 2024
- ↑ "Taipower aims to increase coal storage," Taipei Times, January 23, 2023
- ↑ "Coal-Fired Plants in Taiwan," Industcards.com, February 13, 2011, accessed June 3, 2014 (archived)
- ↑ "Taichung Power Plant- world’s largest coal fired power plant," Morganenergysol.com, January 16, 2013
- ↑ "'Giga' projects - the world's biggest thermal power plants," Power technology.com, November 27, 2013
- ↑ "Sustainability Reports - 台灣電力公司," Taiwan Power Company, 2014
- ↑ "Power construction projects," Taipower, accessed February 2015
- ↑ "台中空污紫爆 蔡其昌要求燃煤改天然氣發電," Liberty Times Net, February 26, 2016
- ↑ "中火案跳過都審 中市府：違法擴建民眾不能認同," United Daily, June 22, 2021
Additional data
To access additional data, including interactive maps of the power stations, downloadable datasets, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker and the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
