TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung City Government has set up AI-powered systems at crematoriums in Xitun and Dajia Districts to track chimney emissions and enhance air quality monitoring, CNA reported.
Wu Shih-wei (吳世瑋), director of the city’s Civil Affairs Bureau, said that cremation can produce excessive emissions. The system, costing NT$1 million (US$31,900), can detect unusual chimney emissions, automatically trigger alerts, and notify staff to adjust exhaust levels.
To ensure accurate air monitoring, the system is checked every three months to improve air quality management at the facility.
The Taichung Mortuary Services Office said that over the past six years, the two crematoriums have handled an average of around 25,000 cremations annually, with demand expected to grow.
The Xitun District facility has 12 cremators and six air pollution control units. Since 2018, the city government has replaced more than 10 cremators and four pollution control devices there.
The city’s Environmental Protection Bureau said that it will keep conducting irregular air quality tests at the crematoriums to check for substances such as dioxins and airborne particulate matter. The agency added that current readings at both facilities meet standards.
The incineration plant in the city’s Nantun District, in operation for nearly 30 years, will be upgraded by TCC Group Holdings at a cost of around NT$9.43 billion, with completion expected in 2029. The revamped facility will handle 900 tonnes of waste daily, cut air pollution by up to 90%, and boost renewable energy efficiency to over 25%.
According to Taipower, Taichung Thermal Power Plant has added air pollution controls, including upgraded monitoring equipment, dust-capturing filters, systems to remove sulfur and nitrogen from exhaust gases, and staged combustion to cut emissions. The plant has a capacity of 5.5 million kilowatts, producing about 15% of Taiwan’s total electricity.
