Coastal stretch, Taitung County, Taiwan (source: flickr/ Ken Marshall, creative commons)The “2023 Geothermal Development Trends and Site Exploration Promotion Forum” was held to publish the results of geothermal exploration work resulting from the “Geothermal Exploration University – Research Cooperation Platform.” This is an initiative launched in 2022 that aims to integrate geothermal-related skills, technologies, and exploration information to accelerate the discovery of geothermal resources in Taiwan.
During the exploration process, the Geological and Mineral Center cooperated with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to introduce new foreign exploration equipment and technologies. Combined with the participation of local universities and experts in the field of geology and earth sciences, work was undertaken to improve the geothermal model for each potential site.
Pilot wells were drilled in some sites to measure downhole temperatures. In Yanping Township in Taitung, temperatures of up to 140 °C were measured. Higher temperatures of up to 170 °C were measured in Wanrong Township, Hualien, and in the Tatun Volcanic Group area in Taipei.
Increasing attention to geothermal
Xu Minghong, director of the Geological Survey and Mining Management Center of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said that more than 200 people attended the event, highlighting the increase in attention that geothermal has received from many industries and sectors. The forum aims to reduce the overall risk and costs of geothermal development by presenting the results of preliminary geological surveys.
Taitung County Mayor Rao Qingling also pointed out that the natural geological conditions in Taitung County provides excellent geothermal resource potential. In addition to prospect sites in Jinlun and Zhiben, the Ministry has identified potential in Yanping Township and Haiduan. The township has invested resources on an investigation plan, the mayor is optimistic that the results are bound to be promising.
Mayor Rao believes that through the cooperation between the central and local governments, geothermal power generation in Taitung County will be developed towards making it the first green city with self-sufficient renewable energy.
A new 840-kW geothermal power plant was recently inaugurated in Yilan County in Taiwan, while a 1-MW pilot geothermal power in Jinshan District in New Taipei City is set to start commercial operations.
