TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Environmental groups on Tuesday warned that a planned Nanzih science park in Kaohsiung could use as much electricity as the city’s homes and businesses, CNA reported.
Speaking during a second-phase environmental impact assessment scoping meeting held by the environment ministry, the groups said the park may use 11.2 billion kWh of electricity every year. They said this matched Kaohsiung’s total power use for daily life in 2025.
They warned the high demand could strain the city’s power supply, with more electricity likely coming from the Hsinta Power Plant. Liberty Times reported that this may increase thermal power use and carbon emissions, as Taiwan still lacks enough renewable energy despite green pledges from communities.
They urged companies to set clear and realistic goals for using renewable energy. They also pointed out that Kaohsiung is expanding its tech and chip industries in several areas.
They said this growth will likely push electricity demand even higher in the future. They called on the city to speed up solar power projects and support local power generation.
They also suggested improving energy use in factories to reduce overall demand. In response, developers said companies in the park plan to install solar panels on their buildings.
They added that companies are working with green energy providers and have already secured a large amount of renewable power. The project is led by the Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau, per Economic Daily News.
The park will be built on the site of a former refinery in Nanzih District. It aims to attract industries like software, smart technology, and green energy, and is expected to create about 6,600 jobs and generate strong economic growth, per CTEE.
