TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Environment on Wednesday approved the Dajia River Guangming Pumped Storage Hydropower Project following an environmental impact assessment review.
The ruling paves the way for a major energy storage facility intended to improve power grid stability. State-run utility Taipower said pumped storage hydropower is a mature energy storage technology that enhances the flexibility of electricity dispatch, per Liberty Times.
As Taiwan expands renewable energy generation, the need for energy storage has become more important. For example, solar power drops off in the evening just when household electricity demand peaks.
Many utilities turn to large-scale “natural batteries” such as pumped storage hydropower systems to overcome this hurdle. Under the system, excess electricity is used to pump water to an upper reservoir, and when electricity is needed, water travels downhill, passing through turbines to generate electricity.
Taiwan already operates two pumped storage hydropower plants near Sun Moon Lake.
Taipower said the new project will be its third pumped storage hydropower plant. The utility plans to use the existing Deji Reservoir and Guguan Reservoir as upper and lower basins, taking advantage of the elevation difference between the two sites to circulate water for electricity generation, per Liberty Times.
The project will include four pumped storage generating units with a combined installed capacity of 610 megawatts. Taipower said the main facilities will be built underground and no new dams will be constructed, minimizing impacts on the Dajia River’s water flow.
The project had faced years of delay due to tunnel construction concerns and disposal of excavated earth and rock. Taipower said it will rely on its experience and follow expert guidance, adding that construction and operations will be carefully monitored.
Taipower said a portion of the project is located within Indigenous tribal territories, requiring careful communication with local communities and compliance with the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law. The utility also pledged to adopt environmentally friendly construction practices to protect the surrounding ecology and environment.
