The Single Service Window for Taiwan Geothermal Power

The promotion of geothermal development in Taiwan is divided into the following periods: 1966, the the period when the mining research institute of the Ministry of Economic Affairs conducted exploration work, and the large-scale exploration & investigation that was focused in the geothermal area of the Datun volcanic group in northern Taiwan. After six years of investigation, it is found that the area contains abundance of geothermal power potential, which is around 500 MWe. However, the geothermal fluid here is relatively acidic and corrosive, and if it is to be developed and utilized, we must deal with the corrosive fluid that will induce corrosion problem in geothermal power generation system. The exorbitant cost has temporarily suspended exploration and development procedures.

After the geothermal exploration at Datun, the country then focused on the exploration of Chingshui, Tuchang, and other geothermal potential areas. However, the government continued building the geothermal agricultural utilization research center in the geothermal area of the Datun volcanic group, and started the research of the applications using geothermal heat (direct utilization), such as wood drying, flower greenhouse cultivation, and livestock production.

The first energy crisis broke out in 1973 subsequent to the exploration of the Datun volcanic area. In order to accelerate the exploration and development of domestic geothermal energy, the Ministry of Economic Affairs had instructed the national geothermal area resource survey. According to the results of the survey of geothermal areas, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) selected the Yilan Chingshui geothermal area as the primary potential area and conducted systematic exploration. In 1976, Chinese Petroleum Corporation (CPC) joined the exploration industry and successfully drilled deep wells in the area, where excellent geothermal fluid capacity and quality was found. Then, the National Science Council invited scholars and experts to organize a geothermal power generation group, and instructed the three institutes of ITRI, CPC and Taiwan Power Company (TPC) to be responsible for exploration, production and power generation respectively.

Geothermal outcrop at riverbed in Yilan Chingshui

In the autumn of 1977, the first 1,500 kWe pioneer geothermal power plant was built in Yilan Chingshui. After various experimental research and demonstration, the 3 MWe flash-type geothermal power plant was built in April 1981, and was handed over to TPC's operation in September of the same year. However, the productivity sustained annual deterioration due to scaling problems in the production well. The operation was suspended in 1993 after 12 years of operation.

The 3MWe power generation in Yilan Chingshui (photo taken in 2018)

Apart from the Datun volcanic geothermal system, all other systems in Taiwan are non-volcanic geothermal systems. The geothermal fluid has a low steam content. The 3 MWe power plant in Chingshui uses a flash-type power generation system, and most of the hot water derived from the power generation is discarded. For the purpose of direct use of geothermal energy and demonstration of recycling carbon dioxide by-products and anti-scaling technology, the BOE entrusted the ITRI in 1985 to construct a 260 kWe binary system power generation test system in Tuchang. After several years of operational test, the Tuchang geothermal power plant confirmed that the binary system power generation is deemed as practical, and the geothermal capacity has no attenuation under proper regulation and control. In 1994, the project was terminated due to the completion of the project.

Tuchang geothermal power plant in Yilan(1985)

Cooling tower of Tuchang geothermal power plant in Yilan.(1985)

Binary system power generator of Tuchang geothermal power plant.

After the suspension of the Chingshui Power Plant in 1993, eight production wells were shut down. The Yilan County Government restarted the development of the Chingshui geothermal area in line with the government's policy of promoting renewable energy power generation. In 2000, CPC transferred the Chingshui geothermal mine rights to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, then completed the geothermal wells scrapping procedures, and distributed eight geothermal wells and pipeline equipment to the Yilan County Government; TPC has also transferred the geothermal power plant facilities to the Yilan County Government for free.

In 2002, the Yilan County Government began promoting the BOT for Chingshui area. The preliminary plan was based on geothermal power generation, and was supplemented by multi-target utilization planning. The tender for the BOT was cancelled as there was only one entry, who did not match the requirements. In 2012, another ROT case had replaced the original BOT program. In December 2012, Yilan County and Gamalan Chingshui Co., Ltd. completed the ROT contract signing, and the Target power capacity is 1 MWe~3 MWe. After the official operation, the application can be expanded within three years after signing the contract, but the case was later suspended due to issues with the company's funds. In 2017, Yilan County Government continued to promote the Chingshui geothermal development plan, and signed a contract with Yiyuan Company to complete the Chingshui geothermal BOT+ROT development project, which is scheduled to commence commercial operation in 2020, and the total installed capacity will be at least 4MWe, whereas the Yilan County Government would obtain about NT$40 million of royalty revenue during the 20 years of operating period.

Chingshui geothermal BOT+ROT project signing ceremony 2017.7.14

The promotion of renewable energy is an important policy for Taiwan. To accelerate the promotion and utilization of geothermal energy, as well as promote the development of geothermal power generation technology and related industries, the BOE commissioned the ITRI to carry out the development project of geothermal resources in the Chingshui in 2006. ITRI completed the workovers of well IC-9, 13 and 19, and the drilling and pumping test of the two new wells IC-20 and IC-21, where all those geothermal wells are used as the research and development platform for geothermal power generation technology. Domestic and international teams were invited to participate in the establishment of the scaling inhibition technology, reinjection technology, simulation and other technologies, power generation system evaluation and testing, as well as reservoir connectivity test and other related research, signaling that traditional geothermal development key technologies have been mastered.

Yilan Chingshui geothermal well IC-09

Yilan Chingshui geothermal well IC-19

First optical fiber temperature measurement in Taiwan(Yilan Chingshui well IC-21, 2011.12.20)

The building of Chingshui demonstration geothermal power plant (2012.09.05)

Demonstration ceremony of Chingshui demonstration geothermal power plant (2012.12.07)

Well CPC-CL-02 in Taitung Jinlun(2013.02.19)

APEC Workshp of Geothermal Energy Development (2013.06.25)

Visiting activities at Chingshui demonstration geothermal power plant (2014.06.22)

Drilling of geothermal testing well in Taipei city Chuanyuan Park (2015.07.12)

Drilling start ceremony of Shihuangping exploration well in Datun mountain (2015.07.28)

Geophysics testing at Hongchailin in Yilan (2016.03.11)

Domestic 300kW geothermal power generator in Yilan Chingshui Commercial power plant (2018.11)