Taipower’s Taichung hydropower units earn international certifications

台電台中水力發電機組獲得國際認證

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipower’s hydropower generating units on the Dajia River have been certified by the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance and the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, making them Taiwan’s first hydropower units to receive renewable energy certificates, CNA reported.

In response to the global net-zero trend and rising corporate demand for green electricity, the Ministry of Economic Affairs amended regulations in 2024 to expand the scope of renewable energy generation to include water storage and dam projects. Hydropower from reservoirs had previously been considered potentially harmful to the environment and was ineligible for renewable energy certificates or sale.

Last year, Taipower further expanded its hydropower facilities to support more local companies to participate in the RE100 green energy certification program. The initiative focuses on companies aiming to achieve 100% renewable energy use by 2050 and requires participants to report their annual progress in adopting green electricity.

Taipower said the cost of hydropower last year was about NT$2.5 (8.3 cents) per kWh, making it a cheaper alternative to the typical green electricity rate of NT$5–6 per kWh for corporate buyers.

Last year, representatives from the two international groups visited the facility to review local environmental conditions and power generation operations, including the surrounding ecosystem, water quality, and the preservation of nearby historical and cultural sites.

The company added that the facility is also the first in Taiwan to combine hydropower generation with solar panels. The hydropower system, spanning from the upstream Techi Reservoir to the downstream Maan Dam, comprises five generation units, enabling water to be reused multiple times for power generation.

The downstream units have a combined capacity of 133,500 kW and produced more than 400 million kWh of electricity last year. The river section near Maan Dam is also home to 17 native fish species.

Taipower has implemented ecological conservation measures along the river, including equipment to support fish migration. Since 2024, the company has also used AI-powered monitoring technology to track fish movements.