Zhongtun Wind Park (Penghu, Taiwan)
The wind farm sits in Zhongtun Village of Baisha Township, and it was the second wind farm to be built in the Republic of China. It has been in operation since August 2001.
A Gust of Green Power
Taiwan’s solar industry has a major limiting factor: the country’s small size and high population density. But there’s one type of renewable power completely unaffected by these factors. That’s offshore wind. And, in a stroke of serendipity, Taiwan is just the place for harvesting wind energy.In 2010, data from NASA showed that wind speeds along the Changhua Coast easily reach 7 meters a second all year long, putting it among the world’s best locations for wind farming.In 2013, an ITRI study determined that Taiwan had space for more than 5,600 square kilometers of offshore wind farms with a total installed capacity of 29 gigawatts – enough to power 20 million households.In 2014, engineering consultancy 4C Offshore released a study of worldwide wind speeds over 23 years. Nine of the world’s top 10 sites for offshore wind farms were in Taiwan’s waters, with average speeds clocking in at almost 12 meters a second.At first glance, there’s every reason to be optimistic about wind power in Taiwan. So why are wind pioneers like Robert Tsai feeling so gloomy? ##The crew sets off from Long Fong Fishing Port in Miaoli’s Zhunan Township, and before long, we’re welcomed by turbines towering out of the water.Winds are often quite gentle in the Taiwan Strait in summer, but today the wind’s finally picked up, bringing a smile to Robert Tsai’s face.Robert TsaiWind energy developerOur two turbines here are Siemens SWT-4.0. Running at full capacity, they generate 4,000 kilowatt-hours an hour. So that means they can each save 2.4 tons of CO2 every hour.Offshore wind is a ray of hope for Taiwan’s transition away from nuclear. The government hopes that by 2025, it will be the second largest source of clean energy, after solar power.Taiwan’s offshore wind hit a major landmark in May 2017, when two trial turbines went into commercial operation – the very first offshore wind installations in the country. But for Tsai and his team, the road leading up to that moment was a tough one.Robert TsaiWind energy developerBack then, to pass government review, seven committees had to approve your proposal. The environmental impact assessment committee was one. There was the submarine cable licensing committee and the building permit committee, the artificial island committee, the management review committee. You need at least three or four years to do the feasibility study, the various environmental impact assessments, and the relevant designs.And the miles of red tape were not the only problem. Taiwan’s docks don’t have the capacity to handle turbine parts like piles and blades. So wind energy developers must rent shipyards to load and unload their components, and then assemble the turbines at sea. When the weather or sea conditions are inclement, work falls behind, and ship rental fees, fuel costs, and personnel expenses climb.Robert TsaiWind energy developerDuring the project last year, we encountered three typhoons. One typhoon means nine to 10 days of idling to keep out of the storm. In other words, one typhoon costs you NT$100 million. Beyond the Zhunan site, Tsai has filed an application to build another wind farm off the coast of Changhua. In the coming years, he plans to install more than 300 turbines there. Robert TsaiWind energy developerAt this stage, what we’re most concerned about is basic infrastructure, because at this point Taiwan doesn’t have any professional-grade ports for loading and unloading. It doesn’t have the right workboats or the right personnel. The government is working on this, but it needs to step up its efforts, it really must. It must be very, very determined.The government plans to invest NT$684 billion in promoting wind power, as part of its “Forward-looking Infrastructure” program. Three docks dedicated to offshore wind are planned for the Port of Taichung. The first should be completed in early 2019.Robert TsaiWind energy developerThe plan is to have 3 gigawatts of offshore wind. That will take almost 800 turbines, if they’re like our units. So if you start today, you need to install about 100 turbines or more every year. That won’t be easy, honestly.This April, the government selected seven offshore wind developers and designated 10 sites for wind farms, picking up the pace of its push for renewables. Over 60% of the new development will be in Changhua County, and all the farms are scheduled for completion by 2025.
DaAiTV_DaAi Headlines_20110120_Endless source of free power
In wintertime, the beautiful islands of Penghu in the middle of the Taiwan Strait, are virtually deserted. Tourists are driven away by the fierce northeasterly wind that buffets the archipelago, especially in the colder months of the year. Yet, that same powerful wind could be the source of endless wealth for Penghu. The government has a five-year plan to make the remote islands a low-carbon model, by building wind farms, to produce clean and profitable electricity.
---Power up in the down season---
The Penghu archipelago in the Taiwan Strait is known for its wind, especially in winter, when fierce northeasterly breezes whip through the islands.
The gusts that drive the tourists away from Penghu seem to rob the islands of an income, but blowing all year round at an average of 8 meters a second, the wind may yet bode well for the archipelago's future.
MOEA energy bureau dept. director, Wang Yunming: We plan to build wind power capacity to 96 megawatts. For solar power, Penghu is also a very good source of sunlight, so we plan to make solar energy capacity 1.5 megawatts .
---US$280m to cut emissions---
The little islands of Penghu are dreaming big. The government is investing 280 million US dollars in alternative energy, as part of the archipelago's five-year low-carbon plan.
---How does a wind turbine work?---
The wind is Penghu's main source of renewable energy. Turning wind power into electricity happens inside these high white turbines.
The electronic transmission and speed controller system in the gear box keeps the blades turning at a slow and steady pace, making automatic adjustments according to the wind speed. The computer also senses wind direction, and turns the yaw drive to alter the angle of the blades to face the wind. The produced power is then converted into electricity.
---Penghu wind power plans---
Turning to the goal of making Penghu a low carbon island, 11 wind stations are being built with 84 turbines, with a capacity of 124.6 megawatts, or 500 megawatt hours - to make as much as 40 million US dollars.
Penghu University of Technology, Prof. Gao Guoyuan: In Penghu, wind power stations have very good resources, the return on investment is over 10 percent, and its very stable - there won't be big fluctuations. At that rate, the investment should be returned in around 8 years.
---Is there money in wind power?---
These eight turbines on Zhongtun(中屯), which have a capacity of 600 kilowatts, paid for themselves a long time ago. The key to the success or failure of Penghu's low-carbon program - apart from cutting emissions - is to see if green power can produce a profit.
Penghu government construction bureau chief, Ye Guoqing: For local residents, we hope this will become their own business, which they will care about, invest in, and earn a profit. So we're aiming for everyone to have a stake in wind power. Of course, the return is about 11 percent, and if you include carbon credits, it's about 20 percent.
---1kWh cost = NT$1.72, price = NT$2.38---
A 20 percent profit would mean a return on investment in five years. Breaking down the numbers, it costs 1.72 NT dollars to produce 1 kilowatt hour of electricity by wind-power; the current price is 2.38 dollars - which is a return of at least 60 cents.
---Rare investment opportunity---
According to some calculations, this in a rare investment opportunity, which can preserve the beauty of Penghu, and create new wealth. One advocate for wind-power is local resident, and a prosecutor at Penghu district court, Wu Xunlong(吳巡龍).
Penghu district court prosecutor, Wu Qunlong: Wind power electricity production profits are virtually nailed on, because our Penghu has nothing much apart from very powerful wind, and if wind powered electricity is onshore, its profits are almost guaranteed.
---Turning around Penghu's fortunes?---
The higher the winds, the more the turbines, and the greater the profits. Perhaps the growing number of wind power stations on Penghu will turn around the islands' fortunes in the off season, and start a new revolution in green power.
Penghu
The Penghu or Pescadores Islands are an archipelago of 64 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait between China and Taiwan. The largest city is Magong, located on the largest island, which is also named Penghu. Covering an area of 141 square kilometers, the archipelago collectively forms Penghu County of Taiwan. It is the second smallest county in the country after Lienchiang.
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