Current Geothermal Development Projects in Taiwan

Abstract

Taiwan has several high potential areas, the National Energy Program-II (NEP-II) has reassessed about 160 GWe geothermal energy potential in Taiwan, about 30% of that in US. With the new renewable energy targets of Taiwan’s new government, the geothermal energy wish to reach 600 MWe by 2025, this market is estimated to be about 6 billion US$. For green energy choices, conventional geothermal system (CGS) has become the most friendly base-loaded power as for ecosystem impacts and human health impacts, and also demonstrates as distributed generation resource which display a critical alternative for upcoming “Energy Transition” in Taiwan. A geothermal promotion team in National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) has worked together with several local industrial and consultant companies and associations for gathering as Geothermal Developers' Council (GDC) in compliance with international practice for mitigating geothermal development risks. Currently, there are six geothermal plant projects supported by our promotion team, one of the projects is in NTOU campus, the other one is the first passed environment impact assessment (EIA) case. There are two new exploration technologies improved from magnetotelluric (MT) method have been tested in active fault zone with high geothermal gradient. Comparing to seismic profile, the fracture zone in base rock is easier identified by new technology. However, more cases need to be verified and analyzed. Bridging the gaps of geothermal technology, legal framework, and social communication are critical for geothermal development in Taiwan, and they are highly relied on the global cooperation among the industry, academia and government.