Shen'ao power station
{{#badges:CoalSwarm|Navbar-Taiwancoal}}Shen'ao power station (深澳電廠更新擴建計畫), also known as Shenzhen-Macao power station, was a 200-megawatt (MW) coal- and oil-fired plant in Taipei, Taiwan.
It is proposed to be replaced with two 600 MW coal-burning units.
Contents
Location
The undated satellite photo below shows the location of the decommissioned plant in Rueifang township, the approximate location where the new plant will be built.
Background
The original Shen'ao power station, also known as Shenzhen-Macao power plant, consisted of three coal- and oil-burning units (1 X 75 MW, 1 X 125 MW, 1 X 200 MW). It was commissioned from 1960 to 1966. The units were retired in 2007 and demolished in 2011.[1][2]
Description of Expansion
Project proposed and then shelved
The old Shen'ao Thermal Power Plant was originally planned to be replaced by two 800 MW coal-burning units. The investment is estimated at NT$108.9 billion, with the commercial operation dates for Units 1&2 planned for April 2018 and April 2019. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) was approved in 2006 and preliminary construction began in 2011. The project has faced strong and sustained opposition from local residents.[3][4]
In its 2014 Annual Report, Taipower said the project's application was "postponed", with a planned operation date of 2022-2023.[5]
In August 2016 it was reported that the public opposition had suspended development of the plant, but that Taipower planned to amend its feasibility report for the project (now 2 x 600 MW), and have it commissioned by 2025.[6]
Project revived again ... and shelved once more
In 2017 Taipower resubmitted an EIA, which was approved by the Taiwan EPA in March 2018. In response, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers demanded the EPA deputy head step down for his approval, as the New Taipei City Government has declared its intention not to issue any additional coal-use permits.[7]
The decision of the centre-left Democratic Progressive Party central government to approve the project became a central issue in the mayoral election campaign scheduled to be held on November 24. In April 2018 candidates for both the Democratic Progressive Party and the Chinese Nationalist Party publicly opposed the project after the central government refused to undertake a new environmental assessment for the project after it was last approved for construction in 2011. [8] [9]
In July 2018 an administrative appeal was lodged against the proposed project on the grounds that pollution from the project would damage public health. The appeal also argued the proposed coal terminal and breakwaters would cause damage to marine life in a conservation area.[10]
All the while a petition calling for referenda questions on both the proposed plants and new air pollution standards were gathering momentum. By Late August over 482,000 people had signed a petition calling for a referendum on the proposed 1200 MW Shenao power station in New Taipei City’s Rueifang District. The petition had well over the 281,745 signatures required for a referendum to be held. Another referendum petition proposing new air pollution regulations gained 496,444 signatures.[11]
In August 2018, Taiwan’s Minister for Economic Affairs pledged to “negotiate” with residents before going ahead with plans for the plant. According to local media reports, the Cabinet was considering stopping the expansion work altogether, pending approval by Premier Lai Ching-te, after the Presidential Office intervened in the matter due to strong public criticism. However, the Presidential Office denied any interference, saying the Ministry of Economic Affairs is responsible for making a decision based on its authority.[12]
The campaign against the plant stepped up further when a health study undertaken by three academics from Taiwanese universities but commissioned by Greenpeace revealed the likely health toll from the plant. The study estimated 570 people would die prematurely due to increased air pollution in the first 15 years of operation of the proposed 1200 MW Shenao coal plant. The study focussed on the death toll only from heart disease, strokes, lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by increased PM 2.5 fine particle air pollution. The study did not estimate the non-fatal health impacts from PM2.5 pollution or illnesses caused by other power plant pollutants. The study, which was The study on the proposed plant by the Taiwan Power Company simulated air quality for just a two-month period while the Greenpeace study modelled the impacts of fine particle air pollution over a year.[13]
In October 2018, the MOEA announced that the plan to expand the plant was cancelled. Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said at a legislative hearing earlier Friday that he agreed with the decision. Activists applauded the decision. The plan had been approved by multiple groups, including Green Citizens' Action Alliance, Greenpeace, Homemakers United Foundation, and Citizen of the Earth Taiwan.[14]
Project Details for new units
- Sponsor: Taipower
- Parent company: Government of Taiwan
- Location: Rueifang Township, Taipei, Taiwan
- Coordinates: 25.1269, 121.8154 (exact)
- Status: Cancelled
- Capacity: 1,200 MW (Units 4-5: 600 MW)
- Type: Ultra-supercritical
- Projected in service: 2025
- Coal Type: Bituminous
- Coal Source:
- Source of financing:
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ "Coal-Fired Plants in Taiwan," Coal-fired power plants around the world, accessed Jan 2014.
- ↑ "供電兼投資深澳電廠有望復活," United Daily news, Aug 13, 2016
- ↑ "Power Construction Projects," Taiwan Power Company, accessed November 2014
- ↑ "深澳電廠擴建漁民白布條抗議.立委議員齊聲援@ 文清的瑞芳札記," Xuite.net, Feb 3, 2016
- ↑ "Sustainability Reports - 台灣電力公司," Taiwan Power Company, 2014
- ↑ "供電兼投資深澳電廠有望復活," United Daily news, Aug 13, 2016
- ↑ "DPP rejects KMT motion that EPA deputy head resign," Taipei Times, Mar 20, 2018
- ↑ Yeh Kuan-yu and Lin Hsin-han, “Former premier says will not support dirty power plants in New Taipei City”, ‘’Taipei Times’’, April 15, 2018.
- ↑ Lin Chia-nan, “Forum proposes geothermal power plant for Shenao”, ‘’Taipei Times’’, April 15, 2018.
- ↑ Lin Chia-nan, “Cabinet urged to scrap plans for Shenao plant”, ‘’Taipei Times’’, July 10, 2018.
- ↑ Stacy Hsu, “KMT delivers signatures for petitions”, ‘’Taipei Times’’, August 28, 2018.
- ↑ Liao Yu-yang and Flor Wang, "Shen'ao power plant negotiations still ongoing: minister," Focus Taiwan, August 2, 2018.
- ↑ “Shenao plant poses health risk: report”, ‘’Taipei Times’’, September 12, 2018.
- ↑ "Activists applaud decision to scrap Shen'ao expansion plan," Focus Taiwan, 10/12/18
