TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Ardentec Corp., a wafer testing company, is partnering with Delta Energy to develop a small-scale hydroelectric power facility on a tributary of the Dajia River in Taichung.
The facility is expected to operate for eight years and generate approximately 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, run-of-river hydroelectric systems reuse stream water multiple times, making hydropower one of the more environmentally friendly and circular forms of renewable energy, per CNA.
Ardentec Corp. said that it mainly uses solar as its source of clean energy and has completed setting up its solar power systems. Last year, green electricity accounted for 10.4% of the company’s total power consumption.
Ardentec joined Renewable Energy 100 in 2023, a global initiative focused on accelerating the transition to zero-carbon power, and pledged to use 100% renewable energy at all its sites by 2050. Last year, the company signed on to the Science Based Targets initiative, which helps companies reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% or above by 2050 compared to 2020.
Ardentec Corp. Vice President Jao Ching-cheng (饒清成) said the company is committed to increasing its use of renewable energy and hopes the move will encourage related sectors to adopt low-carbon practices and promote sustainable development.
Delta Energy General Manager Daniel Chang (張立業) said the demand for green energy among Taiwanese companies is rising as part of efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. He noted that small-scale hydroelectric power facilities are well-suited for Taiwan's ditches and rivers. However, due to geographical limitations, the development of hydroelectric power has progressed slowly, making it less common compared to wind and solar energy.
As of May, Taipower installed hydroelectric power capacity totaling 1,826 MW. From January to May, its hydropower facilities generated 1.72 million MWh.
The Water Resources Department explained that one hydropower method in Taiwan involves releasing water from upstream reservoirs, where it flows through power plants to generate electricity. The water is then stored in a downstream reservoir for later use.
Another method features power plants releasing water from an upper reservoir to a lower one, using the difference in water levels to generate electricity. The water is then pumped back to the upper reservoir, creating a water cycle, the department added.
