Nuclear power in Taiwan

Main article: Energy in Taiwan
Nuclear power plants in Taiwan (view)
 Active plants
 Halted

Nuclear power in Taiwan accounts for 5,028 MWe of capacity by means of 3 active plants and 6 reactors, which makes up around 8.1% of its national energy consumption, and 17% of its electricity generation as of 2013.[1] 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. Construction of the Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant using the ABWR design has encountered public opposition and a host of delays, and in April 2014 the government decided to suspend construction.[2] Taiwanese plants are high performers, with above average 88.5% availability over 2005-2010.[3] Per capita carbon dioxide emissions are three times the world average and Taiwan ranked number one in annual increase of per capita carbon dioxide emissions in 2008.[4]

Active seismic faults run across the island, and anti-nuclear environmentalists argue Taiwan is unsuited for nuclear plants.[5] A 2011 report by the environmental advocacy group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, evaluated the seismic hazard to reactors worldwide, as determined by the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program data, placed all of Taiwan's reactors within the highest risk group of 12 reactors within very high seismic hazard areas, along with some of Japan's reactors.[6] Nuclear power has declined in Taiwan from 14% in 1990 to 7.3% in 2005, having been partly replaced by coal which rose from 23% to 32% in the same period.[3]

Organization

Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in South Bay, Hengchun, Pingtung.

All plants are run by Taipower. The Atomic Energy Council (AEC) of the Republic of China is effectively the regulatory body, but plants are also subject to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

Research centers

Currently there are four nuclear research centers in Taiwan ranging up to 2.8 MW.[7]

Yuan Tseh Lee[8] is alumni of National Tsing Hua University and actual Taiwanese Nobel Prize scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory using with scientific method and with understanding on laws of thermodynamics looking for energy sources with high net capacity factor as base load power source and low carbon footprint.[9] Chen-Ning Yang and Tsung-Dao Lee[10] are also alumni of National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and Chinese Nobel Prize scientists in USA at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Taiwan has to step up its pace in fusion power research if it wishes to develop more sources of "clean" energy.[11]

School School location Research Reactor Employer Employer location
NTHU[12] (HSP) Hsinchu City, Hsinchu, TW THOR with TRIGA[13][14] Taipower Taipei City, Taipei, TW
MIT (Star-Fire-Myth) Cambridge, MA, USA MITR-II/MIT Rad Lab General Electric Fairfield, CT, USA
UC Berkeley (YC/S-Eco) Berkeley, CA, USA (SF Bay) Etcheverry Hall/Berkeley Lab DOE-LANL Los Alamos, NM, USA
University of Manchester Manchester, Manchester, UK Universities Research Reactor Rolls-Royce Derby, Derbyshire, UK
Imperial College (UK G6) RBKC, London, UK Imperial College Reactor Centre NNL Sellafield, Cumbria, UK
École Polytechnique Palaiseau, Esson./Paris, FR Orphée reactor at Paris-Saclay Areva Courbevoie, HDS/Paris, FR
University of Paris-Sud Orsay, Esson./Paris, FR Orphée reactor at Paris-Saclay CEA-Saclay Centre Saclay, Esson./Paris, FR
Fuel cell-Hydrogen-MESMA AIP DCNS Paris, Paris Region, FR
Princeton University Princeton, NJ, USA PPPL(NSTX-U)/Tore Supra-WEST ITER Cadarache, SPLD/BDR, FR
EPFL (Swiss Innov Park) Écublens, Vaud, CH CROCUS CERN(ATLAS/CMS) Meyrin, Geneva, CH
TUM (UnternehmerTUM) Munich(d), Bavaria, DE Fuel cell-Hydrogen-AIP/FRM II Siemens Munich(d), Bavaria, DE
FCS-KTH (SiSP) Stockholm, Stockholm, SE Fuel cell-Hydrogen-Stirling AIP/R1 Kockums Malmö, Malmö, SE

Nuclear waste disposal

Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant in Shimen, New Taipei.
Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant in Wanli, New Taipei.

The Lanyu nuclear waste storage facility was built on Lanyu Island in 1982. The storage plant is at the southern tip of the 45-square-kilometer island, which is located off the southeastern coast of Taiwan proper. The plant receives nuclear waste from Taiwan's three nuclear power plants operated by state utility Taipower. Islanders did not have a say in the decision to locate the facility on the island.[15]

In 2002, almost 2,000 protesters, including many Aboriginal residents of Taiwan's Orchid Island staged a sit-in in front of the storage plant, calling on Taipower to remove nuclear waste from the island. They were also protesting against the government's failure to keep its pledge to withdraw 100,000 barrels of low-level nuclear waste from their isle by the end of 2002.[15] In a bid to allay safety concerns, Taipower has pledged to repackage the waste since many of the iron barrels used for storage have become rusty from the island's salty and humid air. Taipower has for years been exploring ways to ship the nuclear waste overseas for final storage, but plans to store the waste in an abandoned North Korean coal mine have met with strong protests from neighboring South Korea and Japan due to safety and environmental concerns, while storage in Russia or Mainland China is complicated by political factors. Taipower is "trying to convince the islanders to extend the storage arrangement for another nine years in exchange for payment of NT$200 million (about $5.7 million)".[15]

About 100,000 barrels of nuclear waste from the nation’s three operational nuclear power plants have been stored at the Lanyu complex. A report released in November 2011 said a radioactive leak had been detected outside the facility and this has added to residents’ concerns. In February 2012, hundreds of Tao Aborigines living on Lanyu held a protest outside the Lanyu nuclear waste storage facility, calling on Taiwan Power Co. to remove nuclear waste from the island as soon as possible.[16]

History

Taiwanese plants' performance has improved considerably. Their availability rose from 70% in the 1970s to 90% in the 1990s.[17] Safety indices also improved as the number of scrams decreased (30 a year in 1984 to 2 or 3 a year now) and radioactive emissions decreased.[4]

Funds are collected as part of nuclear electricity sales to pay for management of the spent fuel and decommissioning. This NT$196+ billion (in 2009) fund is expected to cover all future liabilities and it was .[18]

Post-Fukushima

Following the Fukushima I nuclear accidents in Japan, nuclear energy has emerged as a contentious issue.[19] 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.[20]

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".[21] 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".[21]

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".[21] 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.[22]

The retirement of existing nuclear reactors was a significant issue in the 2012 presidential election.[5]

Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant

Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant in Fulong Beach, Gongliao, New Taipei.

In 2011, many experts, scientists, and NGOs found 40 errors in its construction.[23]

Since 2011, many more Taiwanese began to support halting the plant construction, although the state-owned Taiwan Power Company said it will make electricity price increase by 40%.[24] Some activists speculate that Taiwan Power Co. has seriously underestimated the price tag of nuclear power.[25]

In April 2014, the Taiwanese government decided to halt the remaining construction of the Lungmen power plant.[26] The first reactor will be sealed after the completion of safety checks, and construction of the second reactor will be halted. A final decision may be subject to a national referendum.[2] As of July 2014, no plan has been advanced for lay-up of the plant.[27]

List of nuclear power stations in Taiwan

Station Chinese Net Capacity (MWe) Location Coordinates Status
Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant 金山核能發電廠 (核一) 1,208[28] Shimen, New Taipei 25°17′09″N 121°35′10″E / 25.28583°N 121.58611°E / 25.28583; 121.58611 (Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant) Operational
Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant 國聖核能發電廠 (核二) 1,902[28] Wanli, New Taipei 25°12′10″N 121°39′45″E / 25.20278°N 121.66250°E / 25.20278; 121.66250 (Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant) Operational
Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant 馬鞍山核能發電廠 (核三) 1,780[28] Hengchun, Pingtung 21°57′30″N 120°45′5″E / 21.95833°N 120.75139°E / 21.95833; 120.75139 (Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant) Operational
Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant 龍門核能發電廠 (核四) 2,600[28] Gongliao, New Taipei 25°2′19″N 121°55′27″E / 25.03861°N 121.92417°E / 25.03861; 121.92417 (Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant) Construction halted

Future energy options

Former president Lee Teng-hui in 2013 stated that Taiwan could not afford to abandon nuclear power in the near future and should enhance its nuclear energy program by developing advanced nuclear technologies, such as nuclear fusion.[29] Lee Teng-hui also stated that wind and solar sources of energy both have limitations and could not fill the void left by nuclear power.[29]

In 2013, Don Shapiro, Senior Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, noted that risks regarding nuclear safety and security will need to be weighed against the risk of serious power shortages and substantially higher electricity costs if Taiwan abandons the nuclear option. He further observed that nuclear power currently accounts for about 17 percent of the electricity generated in Taiwan, and President Ma Ying-jeou has already stated that the existing three nuclear plants will be decommissioned when their authorized 40-year lifespans expire between 2018 and 2025. Without a new nuclear plant or extension of the old ones, Shapiro questioned whether Taiwan has feasible options for meeting its energy needs, since in Shapiro's opinion, renewable sources such as solar and wind energy are not sufficient to take up that slack, coal-fired plants face opposition on environmental grounds, and heavy reliance on liquefied natural gas – which is highly expensive to transport and store – could be so expensive as to undermine Taiwan industry's competitiveness.[1]

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen said in January 2015 that her party aimed to phase out nuclear power in Taiwan by 2025.[30]

Anti-nuclear movement

Human chain blocking main entrance to the 4th nuclear power plant
Anti Taiwan's 4th nuclear power plant banner.
Anti-nuclear movements in Taipei
Protest on 4th nuclear power plant by the DPP in Legislative Yuan
Public demonstration against the 4th nuclear power plant

2010

On August 29, 2010, anti-nuclear protesters formed a human chain blocking the main entrance to the fourth nuclear power plant. Employees were forced to use alternate access routes.[31]

2011

In March 2011, around 2,000 anti-nuclear protesters demonstrated in Taiwan for an immediate end to the construction of the island's fourth nuclear power plant. The protesters were also opposed to lifespan extensions for three existing nuclear plants.[20]

In April 2011, 5,000 people joined an anti-nuclear protest in Taipei City, which had a carnival-like atmosphere, with protesters holding yellow banners and waving sunflowers. This was part of a nationwide “No Nuke Action” protest, against construction of a Fourth Nuclear Plant and in favour of a more renewable energy policy.[32]

On 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 and protested against the nation’s three operating nuclear power plants and the construction of a fourth plant.[21]

2012

In March 2012, about 2,000 people staged an anti-nuclear protest in Taiwan's capital following the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan one year ago. The protesters rallied in Taipei to renew calls for a nuclear-free island by taking lessons from Japan's disaster on March 11, 2011. They "want the government to scrap a plan to operate a newly constructed nuclear power plant - the fourth in densely populated Taiwan". Scores of aboriginal protesters "demanded the removal of 100,000 barrels of nuclear waste stored on their Orchid Island, off south-eastern Taiwan. Authorities have failed to find a substitute storage site amid increased awareness of nuclear danger over the past decade".[33]

2013

In March 2013, 68,000 Taiwanese protested across major cities against the island’s fourth nuclear power plant, which is under construction. Taiwan’s three existing nuclear plants are near the ocean, and prone to earthquakes caused by geological fractures under the island.[34]

On 19 May 2013, 10,000 Taiwanese protested in Taipei against the further development of nuclear power in Taiwan. The protest was launched by an environmental protection organization to protest the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant. Protesters held banners and flags with writings such as No Nuclear Power or We Don't Want Another Fukushima.[35]

On 26 May 2013, hundreds of Taiwanese protested in Taipei calling to vote down the nuclear power referendum bill and to stop the construction of Taiwan's fourth nuclear power plant. Protesters form a big yellow words displaying STOP in front of Legislative Yuan. The protest came a few days before the plan by Kuomintang to push through a bill to hold a referendum in Taiwan and decide the fate of the fourth nuclear power plant.[36]

On 2 August 2013, nearly 100 activists from Taiwan Anti-Nuclear Action League protested against the fourth nuclear power plant in front of Legislative Yuan. They urged the government to immediately stop the project. The league composed of members from Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, Humanistic Education Foundation and Green Citizens' Action Alliance.[37]

On 16 August 2013, Taiwanese held a press conference in Taipei to demand Taipower to stop further electricity price hike, stop construction of the fourth nuclear power plant and stop lying to the public.[38]

On 24 August 2013, over 1,000 Taiwanese gathered at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to demand the government to stop constructing the fourth nuclear power plant. The event was organized by Moms Love Taiwan. The organization made three request during the demonstration, which were for the government to come up with energy policies, promote education on environmental and energy matters and publish the timetable for a nuclear-free Taiwan.[39]

2014

Protesters shot with water cannons
Dispersing the remaining activists

In March 2014, around 130,000 Taiwanese marched for an anti-nuclear protest around Taiwan. They demanded that the government remove nuclear power plants in Taiwan. The march came ahead of the 3rd anniversary of Fukushima disaster. Around 50,000 people marched in Taipei while another three separate events were held around other Taiwanese cities attended by around 30,000 people.[40][41] Among the participants are the organizations from Green Citizen Action's Alliance, Homemakers United Foundation, Taiwan Association for Human Rights and Taiwan Environmental Protection Union.[42]

On April 22, 2014, Lin Yi-hsiung began an 8-day hunger strike at Taipei's Gikong Presbyterian Church to demand that the government halt the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City's Gongliao District, while also calling for an amendment to the referendum law.[43][44][45] On April 27, thousands of activists occupied Zhongxiao West Road, a major thoroughfare in front of Taipei Main Station. Riot police armed with water cannons evicted the protesters by 7 a.m. local time on April 28. Over the weekend, as many as 50,000 activists gathered on Ketagalan Blvd in front of the Presidential Office.[46]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Don Shapiro (1 March 2013). "Taiwan Economy: Near-term Uptick, Longer-term Challenges". The Brookings Institution. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Taiwan to halt construction of fourth nuclear power plant". Reuters. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 Lee, Min. Nuclear Energy Development in Asia Problems and Prospects (Energy, Climate and the Environment Series ed.). Palgrave. pp. 166–167. ISBN 978-0-230-22150-5.
  4. 1 2 Lee, Min. Nuclear Energy Development in Asia Problems and Prospects (Energy, Climate and the Environment Series ed.). Palgrave. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-230-22150-5.
  5. 1 2 Andrew Jacobs (12 January 2012). "Vote Holds Fate of Nuclear Power in Taiwan". New York Times. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  6. ↑ Thomas B. Cochran, Matthew G. McKinzie (19 August 2011). "Global Implications of the Fukushima Disaster for Nuclear Power" (PDF). Natural Resources Defense Council. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  7. ↑ "Taiwan Nuclear Power". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  8. ↑ http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1986/
  9. ↑ http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/02/20/2003402026
  10. ↑ http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1957/
  11. ↑ http://news-en.secr.ncku.edu.tw/files/14-1083-32424,r614-1.php
  12. ↑ http://www.studyintaiwan.org/program2566.html
  13. ↑ http://my.nthu.edu.tw/~reactor/roadmap.htm
  14. ↑ http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=169305&ctNode=124
  15. 1 2 3 "Orchid Island launches new protests against nuclear waste". Asian Economic News. May 6, 2002.
  16. ↑ Loa Iok-sin (21 February 2012). "Tao protest against nuclear facility". Taipei Times.
  17. ↑ Lee, Min. Nuclear Energy Development in Asia Problems and Prospects (Energy, Climate and the Environment Series ed.). Palgrave. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-230-22150-5.
  18. ↑ Lee, Min. Nuclear Energy Development in Asia Problems and Prospects (Energy, Climate and the Environment Series ed.). Palgrave. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-230-22150-5.
  19. ↑ Jou Ying-cheng (March 29, 2011). "Cold comfort for anti-nuclear Taiwanese". Asia Times.
  20. 1 2 "Over 2,000 rally against nuclear plants in Taiwan". AFP. March 20, 2011.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Lee I-Chia (June 5, 2011). "Conservationists protest against nuclear policies". Tapai Times.
  22. ↑ Yu-huay Sun (April 13, 2011). "Quake-Prone Taiwan Halts Nuclear Expansion as Japan Struggles at Fukushima". Bloomberg.
  23. ↑ Nunns, Cain (March 7, 2012). "Taiwan's nuclear nightmare?". globalpost. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Scrapping nuclear power may cause electricity rates to spike: minister". Focus Taiwan News Channel. April 28, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  25. ↑ Li, Shang-jen; Clegg, Julian (Translator) (April 25, 2013). "EDITORIAL: The real price of nuclear energy". Taipei Times. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  26. ↑ Hsiao, Alison (April 26, 2014). "NUCLEAR POWER DEBATE: KMT touts Gongliao ‘refrigeration’". Taipei Times. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  27. ↑ Lin, Sean (July 31, 2014). "No firm details given yet of nuclear plant's sealing". Taipei Times. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "Taiwan, China". PRIS. IAEA. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  29. 1 2 "Lee Teng-hui says nuclear power plants still needed". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  30. ↑ http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2015/01/24/427306/DPP-states.htm
  31. ↑ Loa, Iok-sin (August 30, 2010). "Protestors throng nuclear plant". Taipei Times. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  32. ↑ Lee I-Chia (May 1, 2011). "Anti-nuclear rally draws legions". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30.
  33. ↑ "About 2,000 Taiwanese stage anti-nuclear protest". Straits Times. 11 March 2011.
  34. ↑ Yu-Huay Sun (Mar 11, 2013). "Taiwan Anti-Nuclear Protests May Derail $8.9 Billion Power Plant". Bloomberg.
  35. ↑ "Thousands in Taiwan protest nuclear power project". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  36. ↑ "Taiwan rallies against 'unfair' nuclear power plant referendum (PHOTOS, VIDEO)". RT English. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  37. ↑ "Groups protest amid scuffles among lawmakers over nuclear vote". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  38. ↑ "Small users may avoid rate increase". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  39. ↑ http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2013/08/25/387264/1000-demonstrators.htm
  40. ↑ "Anti-nuclear protests in Taiwan draw tens of thousands". DW.COM. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  41. ↑ "Taiwan Signals More Nuclear Power Despite Protests". VOA. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  42. ↑ "Anti-nuclear rallies to take place islandwide on March 8". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  43. ↑ "Lin starts anti-nuclear hunger strike". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  44. ↑ "Lin Yi-hsiung : Referendum Law must be amended first for meaningful result - Taiwan News Online". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  45. ↑ "Cabinet happy to see ex-DPP head end hunger strike: spokesman". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  46. ↑ J. Michael Cole, The Diplomat. "Taiwan Rocked by Anti-Nuclear Protests". The Diplomat. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

External links

Bibliography

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