After completing the former largest solar power plant with installed capacity of 100 MW (100,000 kW) in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park last year (2019), Taipower is now building another solar power plant with a capacity of up to 150MW (150,000 kW) on the salt fields of the Jiangjun District and the Qigu District of Tainan, which is the largest single solar plant in Taiwan. Today, (April 10) 40 MW of the installed photovoltaic power completed its grid connection ahead of time for trial operation. Taipower pointed out that the installed capacity of the solar power plant on the salt fields is expected to be fully connected to the grid by the end of August this year. In the future, the power plant will be able to generate 200 million kWh of green electricity every year, providing the electricity needed for more than 55,000 households in a year, reducing 8 tons of carbon emissions every year, and fulfilling the responsibility of Taipower for stabilizing the power supply and protecting the environment.
Taipower mentioned that Tainan is an important region in Taiwan for brine drying to produce salts in the early days, with plenty of sunshine for the entire year. By utilizing the unused salt fields in the Jiangjun District and the Qigu District of Tainan, a total of NT$ 9.65 billion was invested to build solar power plant that covers 214 hectares in area, which is equivalent to 300 football fields, with a total installation capacity of 150 MW (150,000 kW), accounting for 4% of the total solar power installation capacity in Taiwan.
Taipower pointed out that more than 460,000 high-efficiency solar panels were used in building the solar power plant on the salt fields, and the images of Taiwan and Tainan’s milkfish were incorporated into the design of the solar panels, symbolizing co-existence and mutual-growth with the environment. In addition to producing green electricity, Taipower also designed green fences and ecological pond on the site to create bird-friendly habitats, hoping to balance power generation and ecological conservation.
As indicated by Taipower, since the scale of the solar power plant is huge, 161 kV power transmission line was used for grid connection, which exhibits system power line protection capability for increased safety. In addition, the solar power plant also equipped with the smart power dispatching function to control power generation remotely, which only reduces the operation and maintenance costs, but also enables power dispatching operation if needed in the future. Moreover, energy storage equipment will be installed for the power plant, turning it into a multifunctional facility to generate and store renewable energy.
Taipower further explained that as an implementer of the power policies in Taiwan, Taipower took the initiative to promote energy transformation and invest in green energy development. In addition to the construction of the largest solar power plant on the salt fields of Tainan, Taipower also continues to promote its rooftop photovoltaic systems for buildings and to carry out its development of floating-type photovoltaic systems with other organizations. Currently, the total installed capacity of Taipower that is under operation is 123 MW. Furthermore, Taipower continues to “utilize the wind” from the offshore of Changhua and has conducted the Offshore Wind Power Phase I Project (about 110 MW). It is expected that the power generated by the system will be connected to the grid by the end of the year, creating a low-carbon and green energy environment.