TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung has reached a milestone in its net-zero transition, with the Chi-mei Wastewater Treatment Plant becoming Taiwan’s first wastewater facility to achieve carbon neutrality following third-party verification.
A certification ceremony was held on Thursday, attended by Ministry of the Interior National Land Management Agency Director-General Tsai Chang-chan (蔡長展) and Kaohsiung City Government Secretary-General Kuo Tien-kuei (郭添貴). Officials said the certification highlights concrete progress by municipal utilities toward net-zero emissions, per a press release.
The Kaohsiung City Water Resources Bureau said the plant emitted 661 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2024. To reduce emissions, the facility upgraded outdated equipment, including switching to LED lighting and inverter air conditioners.
The plant also introduced smart management and monitoring systems to optimize operations based on water volume and installed renewable energy systems such as rooftop solar panels.
Following the upgrades, emissions were reduced to 478 tonnes of CO2e in 2025. The remaining emissions were offset through 559 green electricity certificates, cutting approximately 265 tonnes of CO2e, with an additional 215 tonnes offset through carbon credit purchases, enabling the plant to achieve carbon neutrality by the end of 2025, per the press release.
The bureau said the certification reflects Kaohsiung’s commitment to net-zero policies. It added that the experience gained from the project will be applied to other facilities to help build a more resilient and sustainable urban environment.
