TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipower on Tuesday warned that making the Taichung Power Plant coal-free by 2028 could “paralyze” the national grid without first finding stable alternative energy sources.
Following the decommissioning of Reactor No. 2 at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant on May 17, Taiwan officially entered its “nuclear-free homeland” era, per CNA. In response, five KMT legislators and TPP lawmaker Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷) proposed a plan requiring the Taichung Power Plant to implement a coal-reduction schedule to achieve the goal of going coal-free by 2028 as part of national decarbonization efforts.
Taipower Chair Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) said any legislative decision must take into account long-term development impacts, including the potential consequences of fully eliminating coal at the Taichung plant. He said the Taichung plant has an installed capacity of 5.5 million kW, but Taipower operates only nine coal-fired units, contributing about 5 million kW or 14% of the nation's grid supply.
Tseng said that removing this 14% capacity in 2028 would require serious consideration of secure and stable alternatives. He urged opposition parties to responsibly propose feasible options for public discussion.
"If someone proposes a comprehensive tax cut, I believe everyone in Taiwan would be happy to see it, but where would the funding come from?" he said. Tseng warned that, based on the current state of Taiwan’s power system, forcing a coal-free transition at Taichung by 2028 “could paralyze the national power grid.”
Meanwhile, the opposition has proposed a referendum to extend the operational life of nuclear power plants. Tseng responded that as the implementing agency, Taipower would follow regulations set by nuclear safety authorities and conduct assessments accordingly.
Tseng pointed out that extending the life of nuclear plants involves rigorous safety evaluations. He said Taipower would need to report the results to the public to enable citizens to make informed choices.
He added that all nine units at the Taichung plant can operate simultaneously, supplying 5 million kW during peak summer demand. Replacing that capacity with nuclear energy would require extending the operation of all three nuclear plants, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, not just one.
As for mid- and long-term plans, Tseng said two coal-fired units at the Taichung plant are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2026 after Phase 1 of a new natural gas unit becomes operational. Another two units are expected to retire in 2031 following Phase 2, with the remaining units converted to emergency backup use.
