TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taichung City Government unveiled plans Monday (May 12) to partner with Taiwan Power Company (TPC, 台電公司), the island's main electricity provider, for pioneering geothermal drilling operations. The project will take place at an old police dormitory site near the Guguan (谷關) Branch of Dajia (大甲) River Power Plant, marking Taichung's inaugural venture into geothermal energy development.
Economic Development Bureau (經發局) Director Chang Feng-yuan (張峯源) emphasized that the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部), Taiwan's government agency overseeing economic policy, has pinpointed 10 promising geothermal development locations among 26 shallow potential zones across Taiwan. The Guguan site shows particular promise with an estimated capacity of 15 megawatts of clean energy production.
Chang explained that when operational, the project could produce 40 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, sufficient to power approximately 12,000 households with renewable energy. This output would significantly reduce reliance on coal-fired power plants, supporting Taiwan's broader objectives of carbon reduction and diversifying its energy portfolio.
Chang further highlighted geothermal power's key advantage over other renewable sources such as solar and wind energy: its continuous operation capability around the clock throughout the year. This reliability makes geothermal energy a particularly stable and valuable component of Taiwan's renewable energy mix. The official confirmed ongoing collaboration between the city government and TPC to advance energy transformation initiatives.
