Today (April 25, 2023), Taipower held a press conference to kick off its 2023 Environmental Month. Looking back at its environmental achievements in 2022, when compared to 2016, emissions intensity from its thermal power units decreased by over 60%, and carbon emissions intensity decreased by 7.1%. Award-winning film director Hsu Hung-Lung premiered the ecological film, Avian Power Plant, filmed over 2 years in the Yongan Wetlands near Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung. Taipower declared that it will continue to strive for a balance between maintaining a stable power supply and environmental conservation.

Taipower held the 2023 Taipower Environmental Month presentation at the Taipower Building this afternoon. This year’s theme was “Ecology and Electricity, Symbiosis for the Good of All”. Distinguished guests, including Taipower’s Acting Chairman, Tseng Wen-Sheng; Taipower President Wang Yao-Ting; Deputy Executive Director of the Executive Yuan's Office of Energy and Carbon Reduction, Lin Tzu-Lun; and legislator Hung Sun-Han, among others, collectively supported the initiative.

• Taipower held the 2023 Taipower Environmental Month press conference today, inviting distinguished guests from various sectors to collectively show their support. Pictured from left to right are Yang Ya-Hsin, Principal of Kaohsiung Yongan Junior High School; Professor Chang Hsueh-Wen from National Sun Yat-sen University; Taipower President Wang Yao-Ting; Taipower’s Acting Chairman, Tseng Wen-Sheng; former Kaohsiung City government consultant Lin Tsan-Cheng; and Deputy Executive Director of the Executive Yuan's Office of Energy and Carbon Reduction, Lin Tzu-Lun.

Taipower emphasized that it will continue to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions through equipment improvements, environmental load reduction, and the promotion of unit renewal projects. In alignment with the global trend toward net-zero emissions, Taipower recently introduced new energy applications for power generation, such as gas–hydrogen blending and coal–ammonia blending. These initiatives aim to gradually transition from low-carbon to zero-carbon, effectively achieving net-zero electricity.

Reviewing Taipower’s environmental performance in 2022, in comparison to 2016's baseline, the emissions intensity of air pollutants (including particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other air pollutants) from its thermal power units decreased by over 60%, and the carbon emissions intensity (representing the carbon dioxide emissions per unit of electricity generated) decreased by 7.1%. Taipower explained that last year’s electricity consumption reached a historical high of 236.76 billion kWh, which was approximately 1.4 billion kWh higher than in 2021 (235.34 billion kWh). However, through ongoing efforts, air pollutants emissions were reduced by 5,000 metric tons, and carbon emissions were reduced by 320,000 metric tons compared to the previous year. This benefit can be equated to the carbon sequestration effect of approximately 30 million trees or the equivalent of 822 Da’an Forest Parks.

In recent years, Taipower has been devoted to creating a harmonious coexistence between power generation facilities and the ecological environment. Collaborating with Hsu Hung-Lung, recipient of Best Documentary at the U.S. Accolades Global Film Competition and the Platinum Award at Houston WorldFest, Taipower documented the Yongan Wetland’s ecology. At the event, highlights of the film Avian Power Plant were unveiled. The film is the culmination of Hsu Hung-Lung’s two-year endeavor to capture the essence of the wetland. Hsu mentioned recording 427 black-faced spoonbills this year, compared to the 102 recorded in 2012’s environmental assessment survey data—a threefold increase. This increase was not hindered by the Hsinta Power Plant’s new unit construction, demonstrating the possibility of harmonizing energy development and environmental conservation.

• In recent years, Taipower has been committed to creating a harmonious coexistence between power generation facilities and the ecological environment. Collaborating with award-winning director Hsu Hung-Lung—winner of Best Documentary at the U.S. Accolades Global Film Competition and the Platinum Award at Houston WorldFest—Taipower documented the Yongan Wetland’s ecology. At the event, the culmination of two years of dedication to the film Avian Power Plant was unveiled. This film is now available to view via the Taipower Audiovisual Network. YouTube(https://youtu.be/viQlhMtwyUo)

Taipower explained that the Yongan Wetland was originally developed as a salt field during the Japanese occupation. In 1984, with the transition of the salt industry, property rights were transferred to Taipower for electricity development. Taipower not only preserved Wushulin Salt Making Company, a county-designated historic site, but also made efforts to minimize the development area, avoiding bird nesting hotspots. The overall plan encompassed a 41.25-hectare wetland conservation area, a 15-hectare ecological buffer zone with green belts, and conservation areas. Two-thirds of the area has been designated for environmental protection. As for the Hsinta Power Plant’s new gas combined-cycle unit project, construction started in 2020. In addition to adopting environmentally friendly construction methods, the total installed capacity of the power generation is 3.9 million kilowatts. Upon completion, it will provide high-quality and low-carbon electricity.

Taipower explained that to preserve the biodiversity of the Yongan Wetland, they established an ecological survey team in 2010, initiating ecological conservation research. To date, they have collected over 300,000 records of waterbird and water depth observations. Through scientific management and the application of water level control techniques, the number of waterbirds in the wetland has significantly increased. Species such as the black-faced spoonbill, the long-toed stint, and the Kentish plover have all doubled in population.

• To uphold the development of Yongan Wetland biodiversity, Taipower established an ecological survey team in 2010 and embarked on ecological conservation research. To date, they have gathered over 300,000 records of waterbird and water depth observations. Through scientific management and the integration of water level control techniques, the population of wetland waterbirds has significantly increased.

The 2023 Taipower Environmental Month kicks off today. Apart from the Ecological Exhibition in the Annex Building, a wide range of related events will take place throughout May, including Marine Ecology Seminars, Water Chestnut Restoration and Harvesting (Penghu Chienshan Power Plant), and Environmental Education Site Tours (Tachiachi Power Plant). For more information, please refer to the event updates on Taipower's green website.

• Taipower continues to make ongoing efforts to balance a stable power supply with environmental conservation. The image shows Hsinta Power Plant and the Yongan Wetland.

Spokesperson: Chief Engineer Wu Chin-Chung

Contact Number: (02)2366-6271/0910-192-766

E-mail: u850899@taipower.com.tw

Business Contact: Director Wen Huan-cheng, Environmental Protection Division

Contact Number: (02)2366-7200/0928-856-112

E-mail: u015178@taipower.com.tw