Nuclear power in Taiwan
Encyclopedia
Taiwan
currently has 4884 MWe of nuclear power capacity by means of 3 active plants and 6 reactors, which makes up around 8.1% of its national energy consumption. This makes Taiwan the 15th largest user of nuclear power in the world.
The technology chosen for the reactors has been General Electric
BWR
technology for 2 plants and Westinghouse
PWR
technology for the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant. The Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant
is currently under construction, but has encountered a host of delays building its ABWRs, which will be the largest plants in Taiwan by a large margin after finished.
On World Environment Day in June 2011, environmental groups demonstrated against Taiwan's nuclear power policy. They protested against the nation’s three operating nuclear power plants and the construction of a fourth plant.
(AEC) of the Republic of China
is effectively the regulatory body, but plants are also subject to International Atomic Energy Agency
safeguards.
There are two additional plants under construction equipped with GE latest BWR technology in Lungmen. They will each deliver 1300 MWe of power at peak.
On the eve of World Environment Day in June 2011, environmental groups demonstrated against Taiwan's nuclear power policy. The Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, together with 13 environmental groups and legislators, gathered in Taipei with banners that read: "I love Taiwan, not nuclear disasters". They protested against the nation’s three operating nuclear power plants and the construction of a fourth plant. They also called for "all nuclear power plants to be thoroughly re-evaluated and shut down immediately if they fail to pass safety inspections".
According to Wang To-far, economics professor at National Taipei University
, "if a level-seven nuclear crisis were to happen in Taiwan, it would destroy the nation". George Hsu, a professor of applied economics at National Chung Hsing University in central Taiwan, said nuclear power plants in quake-prone areas need to be redesigned to make them more resistant, an investment that would reduce their original cost advantage.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
currently has 4884 MWe of nuclear power capacity by means of 3 active plants and 6 reactors, which makes up around 8.1% of its national energy consumption. This makes Taiwan the 15th largest user of nuclear power in the world.
The technology chosen for the reactors has been General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
BWR
Boiling water reactor
The boiling water reactor is a type of light water nuclear reactor used for the generation of electrical power. It is the second most common type of electricity-generating nuclear reactor after the pressurized water reactor , also a type of light water nuclear reactor...
technology for 2 plants and Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric Company
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC is a nuclear power company, offering a wide range of nuclear products and services to utilities throughout the world, including nuclear fuel, service and maintenance, instrumentation and control and advanced nuclear plant designs...
PWR
Pressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactors constitute a large majority of all western nuclear power plants and are one of three types of light water reactor , the other types being boiling water reactors and supercritical water reactors...
technology for the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant. The Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant
Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant
The Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant , located in Gongliao Township, is Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant, consisting of two ABWRs each of 1,350 MWe...
is currently under construction, but has encountered a host of delays building its ABWRs, which will be the largest plants in Taiwan by a large margin after finished.
On World Environment Day in June 2011, environmental groups demonstrated against Taiwan's nuclear power policy. They protested against the nation’s three operating nuclear power plants and the construction of a fourth plant.
Organization
All plants are run by Taipower. The Atomic Energy CouncilAtomic Energy Council
Atomic Energy Council is an independent government agency of the Executive Yuan, Republic of China which is responsible for atomic safety, development and regulations. It also conducts research and development into atomic technologies.- History :...
(AEC) of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
is effectively the regulatory body, but plants are also subject to International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
safeguards.
There are two additional plants under construction equipped with GE latest BWR technology in Lungmen. They will each deliver 1300 MWe of power at peak.
Post-Fukushima
Following the Fukushima I nuclear accidents in Japan, nuclear energy has emerged as a contentious issue. In March 2011, around 2,000 anti-nuclear protesters demonstrated in Taiwan for an immediate halt to the construction of the island's fourth nuclear power plant. The protesters were also opposed to plans to extend the lifespan of three existing nuclear plants.On the eve of World Environment Day in June 2011, environmental groups demonstrated against Taiwan's nuclear power policy. The Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, together with 13 environmental groups and legislators, gathered in Taipei with banners that read: "I love Taiwan, not nuclear disasters". They protested against the nation’s three operating nuclear power plants and the construction of a fourth plant. They also called for "all nuclear power plants to be thoroughly re-evaluated and shut down immediately if they fail to pass safety inspections".
According to Wang To-far, economics professor at National Taipei University
National Taipei University
National Taipei University is a public university in New Taipei, Taiwan , founded in 1949. Before 2000, the University was named the College of Law and Business, National Chung Hsing University . The University main campus is in Sanxia District, New Taipei City, Taiwan...
, "if a level-seven nuclear crisis were to happen in Taiwan, it would destroy the nation". George Hsu, a professor of applied economics at National Chung Hsing University in central Taiwan, said nuclear power plants in quake-prone areas need to be redesigned to make them more resistant, an investment that would reduce their original cost advantage.