Start of 4.2 MW Quingshui geothermal plant imminent in Taiwan

Quingshui geothermal plant, Taiwan (source: Shou-cheng Wang)

Reported locally, the 4.2 MW Quingshui geothermal power plant is set to receive its commercial operation license in the coming days. The plant is the first privately built geothermal plant in Taiwan with the potential for expansion going forward.

The Yilan geothermal area, where the plant is located, is seen as the area with the largest geothermal potential in Taiwan with local hot springs nearby.

State-owned Taiwan Power Co had built and operated a 3 MW geothermal plant in the 1980s, yet it was eventually abandoned due to technical challenges.

The developer of the new 4.2 MW plant is Fabulous Power Co with equipment from Ormat Technologies. The reservoir temperature is around 180 degrees Celsius at a depth from 1,200 to 2,100 metres.

The plant extracts water with temperatures of up to 180 degrees C from 1,200m to 2,100m underground and runs it through a heat exchanger to generate electricity, before pumping it back into the ground again.

In an interview last month, Fabulous Power president Lin Bo-hsiu said that the 4.2MW generation capacity is just the beginning with a further development potential of 30 MW to 60 MW in the Cingshuei area alone.

In a statement the Yilan Country announced that “there are abundant geothermal natural resources in the Qingshui area of ??Yilan, which has deep development potential. In order to preserve and continue the abundant geothermal resources in Qingshui area, and promote local industries and levels, the Yilan County Government is actively seeking industrial development patterns that conform to local development to settle in to boost economic prosperity, promote the development of tourism in Quingshui Geothermal Park, and increase employment opportunities.”

In the future, education resources will be integrated to establish a Taiwan Geothermal Education Park, which will become an important indicator pilot base for Taiwan’s geothermal power manufacturers.

In the future, Quingshui Geothermal Power Plant will recruit technicians and technicians in Yilan, and increase local employment opportunities through local talents. It hopes to attract local young technical talents to return and prosper the local economy and develop local employment opportunities. At present, the power plant project has entered the final stage, and the county magistrate Lin Zimiao specially took the time to pay attention to and understand this major project, and expect the construction team to complete the project as scheduled.

The geothermal power plant is expected to be put into commercial operation at the end of September. It is a multi-functional field that combines power generation, leisure and education. The expected average hourly power generation capacity is about 3,150 kWh, which can provide electricity for about 10,000 small households. It is estimated that Since the beginning of operation, the Yilan County Government can collect approximately NT$2 million in operating royalties based on the annual electricity sales revenue, and a total of approximately NT$40 million can be collected for a total of 20 years of operation.

Source: Taipei Times, Yilan Country Government