TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipower has drafted new construction standards for AI data centers and plans to unveil them next year, aiming to optimize computing power and electricity usage while ensuring grid security.

At a seminar on Tuesday, Taipower Chair Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) said that AI data centers consume a large amount of electricity and have high power density, comparable to the semiconductor sector, which could impact local power stability. He suggested colocating data centers with power sources to minimize transmission through the grid, per CNA.

Tseng said that an AI server, such as Nvidia’s GB200 or GB300 series, consumes 1.4 MW per hour — roughly the same as 1,000 households. To maintain power stability, the company plans to require data centers to be located within 5 km of a power source. 

Operators will also be required to install their own power generation equipment and follow a separate electricity pricing structure. Tseng added the company’s “Power Couple” strategy, which better matches electricity supply and demand, along with integrating renewable energy, will help ensure a stable power supply for AI data centers.

Taiwan has 36 data centers, using about 60 MW of electricity, or 0.16% of the country’s total power. There are 79 applications to build new data centers, which could use up to 4,758 MW. Taipower has approved 40 of these applications.

Taipower noted the electricity needs of AI data centers cannot be met simply by extending power lines and must take the local power supply into account. The company suggested that operators consider building such facilities in the center or south. Operators could build in the north once the power grid has enough capacity or new power sources are available.

Taipower President Wang Yao-ting (王耀庭) added that EVs, drones, and robots require substantial computing power. While Taiwan has not experienced high electricity demand from AI data centers, he noted that as these centers expand, their power needs are expected to rise.

Taipower also reported a pre-tax profit of NT$69.4 billion (US$2.2 billion) from January to October, driven mainly by falling fuel prices and a small electricity price adjustment in October. The company is expected to post a full-year profit exceeding NT$50 billion, ending three consecutive years of losses. However, its total accumulated losses remain at NT$352.7 billion.