Taiwan's first offshore large-scale micro grid has come into being in Chimei of Penghu, marking a stride for the Chimei to become a green-energy low-carbon island.

The facility, dubbed "smart micro grid pilot system," was installed in the "Chimei Green Park" in early 2018, via the joint effort of state-run Taiwan Power Company, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and professor Chen Chao-shun, under the auspices of "National Energy Technology Plan (NEP-II)." The system is furnished with a 200 kWp PV power system and a 300 kWh energy storage system, an arrangement boasting optimal cost benefit, capable of enhancing power supply quality and cutting power-generation cost. Taipower pointed out that it will expand Chimei's green-energy generation and storage capacities, boosting the former to 3.37 kWh by 2019, 43% of the island's annual power consumption.

Taipower expressed that in establishing the system, the company drew on the experience establishing a micro grid for disaster relief in Fushan of Wulai, in New Taipei City, in early 2017. The Chimei system can alleviate the problems of fuel-oil transport and maintenance cost for thermal power generator on the island. The Chimei system was inaugurated in a ceremony on May 15, presided by Yang Wei-pu, Taipower chairman, and attended by Chen Kuang-fu, chief of Penghu County, local elected representatives, and professor Chen Chao-shun, who oversees the project.

At present, there is a 4,000-watt diesel oil-fired thermal generator on Chimei Island, generating 7.8 million kilowatts/hours of power a year to meet the need of its 4,000 residents. The facility, which broke ground in 2010, has 155 kWp installation capacity and is located in the "Chimei Green Energy Park" spanning two hectares in space. The capacity will be expanded by 200 kWp in the second stage, boosting annual power output to 480,000 kilowatts/hour.

Pro. Chen Chao-shun explained that micro-grid technology is an emerging grid mode in recent years, featuring stable voltage and frequency. The "smart micro-grid pilot system" includes main control station, fiber-optic communication loop, energy storage system (ESS), and energy management system (EMS), capable of integrating the island's PV power, wind power, and thermal power, thereby overcoming the intermittent nature of green power and stabilizing power supply. Meanwhile, in order to augment power-generation performance, the system employs high-performance photoelectric module, with power-generation performance reaching 3.8 kilowatts/hour per kW daily, as well as smart current transformer, boosting the adjustment and control capability of the system.

Taipower noted that it will continue pushing NEP-II plan, with the target of expanding wind power by 600 kilowatts and PV power capacity to 1,200 kWP by 2019, in addition to raising capacity of energy storage system to 2,000 kWh, thereby increasing the share of green power, which is expected to achieve annual saving of NT$50 million in power-generation cost.

Taipower's goal is to enhance the share of green power to 100% before extending green-power application to other offshore islands and Taiwan per se.   

(Information and photo courtesy of Taipower)