Overview of Thermal Power Generation

Annual Ratio of Thermal Power Generation

During the Initial Post-World War II Period, hydropower was the main force of power generation in Taiwan. In 1966, the installed capacity of thermal power generation exceeded that of hydropower generation; in 1976, it was the year with the largest proportion of thermal power generation. Since the oil crisis in 1970s, Taipower began to promote the nuclear power generation, and the proportion of thermal power generation is decreasing year by year.

With the growth of Taiwan's economy, the demand for electricity for the people's livelihood and industry increased, and government's open power generation market of large-scale thermal power plants, Taichung Power Plant, and Datan Power Plant have joined the system one after another. The proportion of Self-generated and purchased power by thermal power plants has increased year by year. In 2023, the proportion of thermal power generation is 81.86%, the proportion of remaining pumped storage generation is 1.24%, the proportion of nuclear power generation is 6.99%, and the proportion of renewable energy including conventionally hydropower generation is 9.91%.

The Taipower system has gradually increased various supply of power, such as wind and solar energy. However, thermal power generation is still the most important for power sources at this stage.

Thermal Power Generation in the Past Ten Years

In 2014, the power generation of the Taipower system was 219.2 billion kWh, of which the thermal power generation was 164 billion kWh, accounting for 75.96%. In recent years, with the economic growth, the demand for electricity has increased year by year. The power self-generated and purchased in 2023 was 245.5 billion kWh, of which the thermal power generation was 200.9 billion kWh, accounting for 81.9%.

In terms of installed capacity, the Taipower system is still mainly based on thermal power generation, and then gradually develops renewable energy power generation, supplemented by hydropower and nuclear power generation to meet the power supply required for the development of people's livelihood and the development of industry and commerce. It accounts for 61.1% of the Taipower system.