In a modern industrialized society, electricity, is the engine of progress and the source of greatest comfort and convenience. Everything from lights, to trains, to department store escalators depends on electricity. In the Republic of China, the sole supplier of electricity is the Taiwan Power Co., known as Taipower for short.
Taipower was officially opened in May 1946. As its duties are directly related to the nation's economic development, and because of the enormous investment required, it was designated a state enterprise. Over the past 30 years, Taipower has grown continuously, employing the latest technology to improve the quality of life and boost industrial production.
The power industry in China in fact originated in Taiwan. In 1887, during the latter part of the Ching Dynasty, Governor Liu Ming-shuan founded the Hsing Shih Co. to operate the country's first thermal station, powered by a small coalfired generator.
During the period of Japanese occupation, electricity became the main source of energy in Taiwan, and accordingly, the power industry also progressed. In 1904, the first hydroelectric power station was constructed in Kueishan to provide electricity for Taipei. Later, small stations were built around the island, but their limited capacity was sufficient only for lighting.
After the retrocession of Taiwan to the ROC, Taipower took over power generation responsibilities from the departing Japanese. Current president, David Chu, was working with Taipower from the start, and recalls vividly the early days. Street lights were few and far between, making collisions between bicycles and pedestrians at night a common occurrence. In addition, there were frequent black-outs when demand became too great.
In 1953 Taipower began to look at long-range power needs, and initiated a series of four-year, five-year and later 10 and 20-year plans. At first, hydroelectric stations were seen as the main source of electricity, but today the focus has switched to nuclear energy. Power capacity has been expanded over the years from 270 kilowatts to 4.1 million kilowatts in 1982.
The First Nuclear Power Station was completed in 1978 with a capacity of 630 kilowatts, and the second was integrated into the system in 1981 bringing an added 1.25 million kilowatts. Nuclear energy now accounts for 27.3 percent of all Taipower's capacity. (For more on Taipower's nuclear program see Sinorama's February 1983 edition.)
Over the last 29 years Taipower has spent more than NT$660 million (US$16.5 million) to bring electricity to remote areas of Taiwan. There are now 2,802 villages and 169,700 homes in remote areas which receive electricity. This brings the nation's electrification rate up to 99.7 percent.
An example of the lengths to which Taipower will go to spread rural electrification is a farm on a mountaintop in Shuanghsi in Taipei County. This is possibly the most expensive power supply in the world, since it cost NT$7.2 million to put up the 22 kilometers of distribution lines needed to reach the area. Yet despite the cost and hardship in connecting the farmer to the nation's grid, his electricity rate is no higher than anybody else's on the island, a company policy. And at NT$2.4 per kilowatt hour, Taiwan has the third lowest rate in Asia after Japan and Hong Kong.
In order to prevent power outages and to ensure that power reaches the more remote corners of the island, Taipower has built an integrated network of high voltage transmission lines running both north-south and east-west. The northsouth line, connecting the north, central, and southern parts of Taiwan is a 345,000-volt extra high voltage system, while that from Kaohsiung to Eastern Taiwan is 161,000 volt transmission.
When one part of the island has insufficient power for some reason, the supply can be reinforced from other areas through this integrated network. The result is a constant and steady supply of electricity to all areas of Taiwan.
An added benefit of this system is that accurate records of power consumption can be maintained. Using this information, technicians can predict which area will require extra power, and at what particular time.
Taipower is now in the process of putting Taipei's power lines underground to protect them from the weather, and make possible the removal of unsightly overhead lines. Progress is slow, however, since installation costs are up to ten times higher than for overhead lines. At present, the program is five percent completed.
Starting almost from scratch in 1946, Taipower has succeeded in bringing electricity to almost every home in Taiwan. In addition, Taiwan's "economic miracle" is to a large extent due to Taipower's efficiency and long-range planning. People living in Taiwan can thank Taipower for making a big contribution to the high standard of living they enjoy.
[Picture Caption]
1. In order to connect the eastern and western power systems, Taipower ran this 69,000 volt line through the mountains. 2. Linemen at work on a 345,000 volt line. 3. A necessary part of every electric pole. 4. The nation's largest thermal power plant is located in Kaohsiung County. 5,6. Hydropower plants are usually located high up in the mountains where lakes are formed by damming rivers.
1. Besides thermal, nuclear, and hydropower, Taipower is also experimenting with natural power sources. Here, geothermal heat. 2. The dock at the Kaohsiung thermal plant. 3. Installing the reactor into the Third Nuclear Power Plant. 7. Workmen at the construction site of a hydropower plant being built in Hualien County. 4.5.6.8. Linemen make sure that power gets to those who need it. They work under all conditions: heat, cold, night and height.
1. Electric power helps to entertain this small customer. 2,3. In order to reach this one farm house, Taipower spent NT$7.2 million setting up the 22 kilometers of line needed. 4-6. Electric power lights up the city at night.
1. Fish breeders depend on a continuous supply of electric power to aerate their ponds. 2. Factories need tremendous amounts of power to keep running. 3. Power lines now stretch across the countryside.
2. Linemen at work on a 345,000 volt line.
3. A necessary part of every electric pole.
4. The nation's largest thermal power plant is located in Kaohsiung County.
5,6. Hydropower plants are usually located high up in the mountains where lakes are formed by damming rivers.
5,6. Hydropower plants are usually located high up in the mountains where lakes are formed by damming rivers.
1. Besides thermal, nuclear, and hydropower, Taipower is also experimenting with natural power sources. Here, geothermal heat.
2. The dock at the Kaohsiung thermal plant.
3. Installing the reactor into the Third Nuclear Power Plant.
4.5.6.8. Linemen make sure that power gets to those who need it. They work under all conditions: heat, cold, night and height.
4.5.6.8. Linemen make sure that power gets to those who need it. They work under all conditions: heat, cold, night and height.
4.5.6.8. Linemen make sure that power gets to those who need it. They work under all conditions: heat, cold, night and height.
7. Workmen at the construction site of a hydropower plant being built in Hualien County.
4.5.6.8. Linemen make sure that power gets to those who need it. They work under all conditions: heat, cold, night and height.
1. Electric power helps to entertain this small customer.
2,3. In order to reach this one farm house, Taipower spent NT$7.2 million setting up the 22 kilometers of line needed.
2,3. In order to reach this one farm house, Taipower spent NT$7.2 million setting up the 22 kilometers of line needed.
4-6. Electric power lights up the city at night.
4-6. Electric power lights up the city at night.
4-6. Electric power lights up the city at night.
