ThinkGeoEnergy – Geothermal Energy News

Taiwan plans early exploration for geothermal project

Taiwan plans geothermal project in the Datun Mountain Range near Yangmingshan National Park. Early exploration is planned for 2015 for the initial project of 10 MW.

Reported locally, the Taiwan Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and New Taipei City’s Economic Development Department has announced plans for a geothermal project in the Datun Datun Mountain range.

The potential projects site is located on about 450 hectars of land owned by the central and local governments. If built the the project could be the first geothermal plant, after an initial plant was suspended in 2013 due to environmental concerns. It is located near Yangmingshan National Park about 30 km from the city center of Tapei.

“Citing a study by the state-sponsored Industry Technology Research Institute, the EDD said the total installed capacity of the power plant could reach 100 megawatts.

“During the initial stage, the goal will be capacity of 10 MW, producing up to 68.5 megawatt-hours of electricity per year—enough for 16,000 households,” a department official said.

The BOE has earmarked NT$30 million (US$1 million) for an exploration well to be dug in the second half of 2015, with drilling for the first full-scale production well set for early 2016.

According to ITRI’s Green Energy and Environment Research Laboratories, geothermal energy produces no carbon emissions and can serve as a baseload power source given its highly stable nature.

“With recent advancements in related technology, geothermal energy should be considered a priority as Taiwan strives to develop its own energy sources,” an ITRI researcher said.

Sources familiar with the matter said total investment in the facility is expected to top NT$2.4 billion ($76 million), with several domestic and foreign firms already expressing interest in the initiative.

Since the plant is located on public land outside Yangmingshan National Park, the project will involve relatively few administrative complexities and is expected to have less of an effect on the environment, sources added.”

Source: Taiwan Today

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