TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Water Resources Agency said that water quality in Tainan’s Wushantou Reservoir has not been affected by the installation of solar panels.
Tsai Tsung-hsun (蔡宗勳), an agency official, said the facilities cover about 11.5 hectares, or 1.12% of the reservoir’s surface area. The project was completed and connected to the power grid in May 2022, per CNA.
The facility can produce up to 13 megawatts of electricity at its peak, Tsai noted. It generates around 18 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is enough to supply nearly 5,000 households for a year, and reduces carbon emissions by about 9,000 tonnes annually.
Tsai emphasized the agency commissions three related organizations to conduct water quality tests five times a year, with results showing the reservoir’s water quality remains unaffected.
According to Tainan’s Economic Development Bureau, solar panels are made mostly of silicon, a non-toxic material. The panels are tightly sealed with glass and aluminum frames to prevent any leakage that could cause pollution. The support structures are also tested to resist rust and corrosion.
The panels rest on floating pontoons and do not directly touch the water. Similar installations on the water surfaces of Kaohsiung’s Agongdian Reservoir and Hsinchu’s Baoshan Reservoir have also shown no impact on water quality, the bureau added.
However, Tainan KMT City Councilor Tsai Yu-hui (蔡育輝) said the reservoir is a major water source for south Taiwan and noted the city has other sites better suited for the installations. He added that the project lacked community consultation and raised concerns about potential chemical leaks from the panels.
Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) added that the ministry will consider whether environmental impact assessments are needed for installing solar power facilities on rivers, seas, or reservoirs, prioritizing projects that do not affect the environment.
In July, Typhoon Danas damaged approximately 145,000 solar panels in Chiayi and Tainan, totaling about 2,800 tonnes. Cleanup of the solar panel waste was completed on Monday. Before then, 17,000 discarded panels were temporarily stored at a fish pond in Chiayi, leading to a NT$9 million (US$270,000) fine.
