TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipower said it has stepped up efforts to reduce air pollutant emissions from power generation, including equipment upgrades and a broader shift from coal-fired power to natural gas, CNA reported.
Air pollutant emissions from coal-fired power plants have fallen 77% over the past decade, Taipower said. The company added that it has spent NT$44.1 billion (US$1.4 billion) upgrading air pollution control equipment at the Taichung Power Plant, cutting emissions by 80%.
Coal-fired units at the Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung have been placed on standby. Taipower has also spent NT$12.5 billion refurbishing existing gas-fired units, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 50%.
From 2017 to last year, Taipower said it allocated NT$69.2 billion to air pollution improvement projects, including upgrading dust collection systems and introducing catalyst-based technology to reduce emissions. The company also built coal storage facilities to reduce pollution from open-air coal piles and installed emissions monitoring systems as part of its pollution-control measures.
In response to rising electricity demand driven by AI and semiconductor development, and to cut carbon emissions, the Cabinet aims to boost renewable energy to 30% of total generation by 2030, raise natural gas to 50%, and reduce coal to 20%. The government is also expanding the development of hydrogen and geothermal energy.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said some legislators plan to amend parts of the Air Pollution Control Act to impose limits on the operation of power generation units. According to Taipower, the proposed changes could limit the use of certain fuels, force power units to shut down, and pose a risk to electricity supply stability.
The company added that the revisions would also authorize local governments to tighten emissions standards or restrict fuel use at power plants. It warned that operational limits imposed by a single local authority could disrupt electricity supply over a much wider area beyond its jurisdiction.
Taipower said factors affecting air quality are not limited to power plant emissions. It warned the proposed amendments may not effectively improve air quality and could instead affect the electricity supply needed for industrial growth.
