Government and academia cooperate to develop geothermal energy

2022-09-26

Geothermal energy is being explored as a potential source of sustainable energy, as Taiwan works toward its goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. Experts say there are many uncertainties involved with geothermal energy, but the government hopes to get the ball rolling by working with academia. It’s sharing the results of its findings with industry, with the hope of spurring development.

Steam billows up into the air at Yilan’s Qingshui Geothermal Park. In one hot spring, eggs cook in baskets, in another people soak their feet, but these springs can also be a source of green energy. Taiwan sits on several fault lines, giving it abundant sources of geothermal energy, which the government is actively developing. Authorities have called upon researchers at 12 institutions to establish a panel for research into geothermal energy.

Tseng Wen-sheng
Deputy economics minister
Geothermal exploration involves many uncertainties. As for our cooperation with academia, basically they collect information about geology and geothermal potential, and then use that to make an initial assessment. That’s our goal in this first stage.

There are lots of uncertainties with geothermal energy, but the government is working with researchers to collect more information, and spur development. It’s exploring areas of potential, with the aim of giving that information to industry to aid its development, and lower costs. So far, drilling has begun in Datun Mountain near Taipei’s Beitou District, as well as Hualien and Taitung. It expects to drill in five additional locations next year.

Tseng Wen-sheng
Deputy economics minister
For private companies, an ability to drill wells is the most important thing. In the future, improvements to the operational efficiency of the power plants will also be important. We will provide assistance with relevant design issues and so on. Of course, if a plant is in an area with much larger geothermal potential, and if we’re on the feeder line, then we can make earlier arrangements.

In addition to wind and solar power, geothermal energy has been an area of growing focus in recent years in Taiwan. Exploration of potential sites began increasing in 2020 and is expected to double by next year. With Taiwan aiming for zero carbon emissions by 2050, the government is pouring resources into sources of green energy.

經部學研合作平台明年估增5探勘地熱地點

2022-09-26

台灣邁向2050年淨零碳排目標，積極發展綠色能源，近年來地熱成為重點項目，經濟部與國內12所大學合作，找來地質和地科專家一起探勘，尋找有開發潛能的地點，目前在大屯山和花東都有，預計明年還會新增5個地點，加速推動率能開發。

宜蘭清水地熱公園白煙嬝嬝，不只能用來煮玉米、泡腳休憩用途，還可以做為綠色能源，台灣位於板塊交界，地熱資源豐富，政府積極擴大開發，更邀請國內12所大學的地球科學和地質學家，成立地熱探勘學研合作平台。

[[經濟部次長曾文生]]
“地熱的探勘，其實它有非常多不確定性，就我們跟學界的合作來說，基本上他們能把地質跟地熱潛能的資料，做到一個初步推估，這是我們目前第一期的目的”

地熱開發不確定性高，政府整合國內地熱開發資源，與學者合作帶頭探勘，評估有潛力的地點，方便後續廠商開發，能降低部分成本。目前已經啟動鑽探的地點，包含大屯山、花蓮和台東，預計明年新增5個地點，累計8處探勘點。

[[經濟部次長曾文生]]
“(廠商)最主要的是鑽井技術，以及未來整個電廠營運效能的提高，相關設計等，這些我們會來做支持，那當然，如果一個地熱的潛力廠，我們估計起來它是比較有規模，我們在饋線上面，就可以早點做一些布置”

台灣除了離岸風電和太陽能外，地熱也成為重點項目，從2020年到2023年地質調查所的預算幾乎翻倍，顯示政府相當重視地熱資源，台灣邁向2050淨零碳排目標，政府要加速推動綠能開發。