Natural gas power generation will become a critical power supply equipment for Taiwan in the future. TPC has planned for 5 advanced combined recycle natural gas units, totaling approximately 6.5 MW, and hosted the signing ceremony of the “Hsinta Power Plant Gas Units” today. TPC aims to commence operation of the new units by 2024.

TPC plans to establish 3 and 2 advanced combined cycle natural gas units at the Hsinta Power Plant and the Taichung Power Plant respectively, and proposed a procurement case of NTD$100 billion, which was obtained by major gas turbine manufacturer General Electric and CTCI, who will provide 16.24% of power provision in the future.

Yang Wei-fu, Chairman of TPC, signed with Ramesh Singaram, President and CEO of GE Gas Power Asia Pacific, as well as Yang Chung-hsing, Chairman of CTCI, at the ceremony today. TPC pointed out that the advance engineering of the new gas units had commenced in early June this year, and the project is able to extend and refine on the result of air quality improvement for Kaohsiung City, should it complete and initiate operation according to the schedule.

▲ Gas turbine 7HA.03 model gifted by GE.

TPC is currently implementing the series of expansion for the Tatan Power Plant and the Tongxiao Power Plant in full throttle, and has accelerated on the establishment of the combined cycle natural gas units at Hsinta Power Plant, Taichung Power Plant, and Hsieh-ho Power Plant. If all goes according to the plan, the new gas units of Hsinta Power Plant will commence operation by 2024, and the existing No. 1 and 2 coal-fired units will be successively decommissioned starting from the end of 2023, whereas the No. 3 and 4 coal-fired units will first be used as reserve units at the end of 2024, before successively decommissioned at the end of 2025 and 2026 respectively.

Yang Wei-fu pointed out that northern, central, and southern Taiwan has been equipped with new gas projects, and the signing today was for the primary equipment units for the Hsinta Power Plant in the north, with advance engineering already happening right now. The Tatan Power Plant in Linkou is also in the midst of implementing upgrades for its No. 7, 8, and 9 units, and has resolved the issues of labor shortage caused by the pandemic. As for the Taichung Power Plant, the Taichung City Government is currently coordinating on urban design review, as well as the planning in wastewater drainage.

Yang Wei-fu also pointed out that the two power plants that are currently under construction will be completed according to the schedule, and hopes that the city government is able to provide assistance in facilitating the procedure and commencing construction for the Taichung Power Plant during the first half of 2021. Yang commented that a single unit sits at roughly 1.3 MW of capacity, and despite the relatively high ratio, a dispatching method will be used to maximize the power generation of renewable energy and coordinate with the demand response in order to satisfy the demand of power supply, alongside the incorporation of the power generation volume of various units and renewable energy.

Wang Mei-hua, Minister of Economic Affairs, commented that the relevant building permit will require communications with the local government, and asks TPC to negotiate with the local government on acquiring the license as soon as possible. The Ministry of Economic Affairs serves in ensuring a stable power supply, and further actuating relevant energy programs under environmental issues.

TPC stated that the combined cycle generator integrate two power generation methods of gas turbine and steam turbine, where the gas turbine produces power from the generator, and discharges the heat released from the high temperature of the gas turbine back to the heat recovery boiler, which is used to heat up the water within the boiler that will release steam to propel the steam turbine for a secondary power generation. Hence, despite the higher installed capacity for a single combined cycle generator compared to coal-fired unit, it produces less greenhouse gas and air pollutants during the combustion process.

 (Cover photo source: TPC)