In a collaborative effort, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (ECCT) have unveiled the ambitious "Paving the Way to Net Zero Power Report." Officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs highlight the invaluable contributions from European partners, bringing fresh net-zero perspectives to Taiwan, spanning technology, policy, and more. With Taiwan's power sector responsible for over 50% of carbon emissions, reducing power-related carbon emissions has emerged as a critical step toward achieving net-zero goals. The report aims to introduce new technologies and foster increased collaboration with ECCT in the coming years.
Taipower underscores the necessity for technical assistance across various facets of power-related applications to address challenges arising from high electricity consumption and the pursuit of renewable energy development. While reforms on the power grid side are underway, enhancements on the power generation front in Taiwan are also imperative. Power grids and power generation are pivotal for advancing and reforming the power sector.
The ICT industry in Taiwan holds an advantageous position in adjusting demands on the consumption side. However, advancements are still needed on the application and technology fronts in power generation. Successfully piecing together the power generation puzzle is crucial for realizing the net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050. ECCT has played a pivotal role in assisting Taipower, with expectations of continued collaboration leading to breakthroughs in related technologies.
The comprehensive report spans carbon-neutral strategies, hydrogen development, co-firing technologies, and green energy topics, including electric vehicles. It involves the participation of 20 organizations, including Taipower and select members of the ECCT, such as diplomatic offices and corporate members. The report draws on the experiences of over ten countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States, offering policy perspectives on energy development and response strategies based on policy context, supply, power grid, and demand.
Taipower highlights that the report encapsulates initial discussions between Taipower and ECCT members across various fields, and it also incorporates innovative solutions proposed by global industry representatives, including TUV Rheinland, Schneider Electric, and Orsted, through workshop formats. Under the theme of "Carbon Neutral Strategy and Roadmap Planning," discussions explore strategies for carbon reduction technology, renewable energy, hydrogen, ammonia energy, carbon capture and storage technology development, and expanding international cooperation to hasten carbon reduction goals.
The report extensively delves into hydrogen development, examining the practical application of hydrogen globally and the feasibility of hydrogen co-firing. Regarding hydrogen energy, Taipower's selection of the power plant in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, as a demonstration base for hydrogen co-firing in February 2023 marks a significant step. In November 2023, Taipower, in collaboration with the Academia Sinica, released research results on decarbonized hydrogen power generation technology. Developed in partnership with Siemens Energy, this technology involves co-firing hydrogen and natural gas, with a trial burn set to commence in mid-December 2023. Ongoing monitoring will assess whether carbon emissions show a proportionate decrease, prompting adjustments to the co-firing ratio.
Taipower states that the report will be donated to institutions domestically and internationally, including EU member countries. Future collaboration will involve further cooperation with members of the ECCT's Low Carbon Initiative (LCI), focusing on topics such as power grid security, transmission and distribution technology, and intelligent asset management.
