The first generator of Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant located in the northeastern coast is expected to come into operation in 2015, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).
State-run Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), the operator of all main power plants in Taiwan, will finish trial runs of 126 systems of the first generator by the end of April 2014, and full testing by the end of June. Taipower will fill the first generator with nuclear fuel in September in preparation for starting operations, MOEA indicated.
The plant has two generators, with the second one scheduled to begin operations in 2017, MOEA noted. The two generators will be able to generate 19.3 billion kWh of electricity a year.
In response to questions from local environmental protection activists, MOEA stressed that the fourth nuclear power plant will by no means affect government policies promoting renewable energy.
Since the Renewable Energy Development Act came into force in 2009, installation of power-generating facilities of all types of renewable energy, mainly wind and solar energy, in Taiwan has reached a total capacity of 3.761GWp, MOEA indicated. The government plans to increase the total installation capacity to 9.952GWp in 2025 and further to 12.5GWp in 2030, MOEA said.
The average annual power generation time is more than 90% for nuclear power plants, 38% for offshore wind turbine generators, 28% for land-based wind turbine generators and 14% for PV systems, MOEA said.
