TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said the government will boost thermal power generation and renewable energy capacity to meet growing electricity demand, particularly from the semiconductor sector, CNA reported.
At an investor conference in January, TSMC Chair and CEO C.C. Wei (魏哲家) said that rising demand for AI servers and data centers is driving the company to speed up capacity expansion at home and abroad this year, including the construction of 2-nanometer fabs in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung. He hopes the government will ensure an adequate power supply to support stable manufacturing operations.
Kung said that Taipower has launched measures to expand thermal power generation capacity. Last year, the company added generating units with a combined capacity of 2.21 million kW at facilities in Taoyuan and Kaohsiung. This year, Taipower plans to install additional units at its Kaohsiung and Taichung thermal power plants, adding another 5.2 million kW of capacity.
Kung said that Taipower has also intensified efforts to strengthen grid resilience. A new substation that came online last year in Taipei’s Neihu District has reduced the risk of power outages in eastern Taipei caused by potential line overloads.
A cable project connecting the Tatan Power Plant in Taoyuan to the Hsinchu Industrial Park is scheduled for completion and integration into the grid in September, which will also support electricity demand at Taoyuan International Airport and nearby industrial areas.
Kung noted that Taipower plans to submit a proposal in March to restart the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, which was decommissioned in May 2025. In January, Taipower signed a cooperation agreement with US nuclear technology provider Westinghouse Electric to carry out safety inspections at the plant, a process expected to take up to two years.
Kung also highlighted the government’s efforts to expand renewable energy capacity. Last year, Taiwan’s offshore wind power capacity reached 4.4 GW, with additional suitable sites under discussion.
Solar power capacity reached 15.47 GW last year. Kung added that starting in August, the ministry will require buildings larger than 1,000 square meters to install rooftop solar panels. He said the initiative is expected to add around 660 MW of capacity annually.
Taiwan Green Collar Association Chair Chen Chung-jen (陳重仁) said that renewable energy accounts for about 12% of Taiwan’s power generation, leaving a significant gap to the government’s target of 20% this year. He praised the ministry’s push for rooftop solar panels, noting they are far cheaper to install than panels on reservoirs or hillsides.
Kung added that CPC Corp. has partnered with Academia Sinica since 2024 to drill a deep geothermal well in Yilan’s Yuanshan Township. The company plans to release an assessment report in the first half of this year to evaluate the site’s potential for additional renewable power generation.
