TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taitung County Government is expanding its renewable energy and aims to generate 60% of its electricity locally by 2030, CNA reported Friday.
The county has built six small hydropower plants and four geothermal plants as part of its green energy plan. These projects are expected to produce about 600 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year by 2030, covering around 60% of local demand.
PTS reported that Taitung currently relies on electricity transmitted from western Taiwan and uses about 1 billion kilowatt-hours annually. Officials said this dependence creates risks, as power outages could occur if disasters disrupt supply from other regions.
To reduce this risk, the county is developing a microgrid, a local power system that can keep running if the main grid fails. The system uses renewable sources such as water and underground heat to generate electricity locally.
Officials said small hydropower systems channel mountain stream water through pipes to spin turbines and generate electricity. These systems have a low environmental impact and return water to the stream after use.
CTS reported that the county is also working with Indigenous communities to build and operate the facilities. Some electricity will be used locally, while surplus power can be sold to the national grid.
A seventh small hydropower plant is planned in Daren Township and is expected to generate 132 kilowatts. Community leaders said such projects could also support eco-tourism and environmental education, per Hakka News.
