Report warns of Taiwan energy crisis by 2032
報告示警台灣將在2032年面臨能源危機
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A report released on Monday by the Taiwan Research Institute warned the country could face an energy crisis by 2032, driven largely by surging electricity demand from AI and advanced technology industries, per UDN.
The institute’s latest electricity market index shows continued growth in power consumption from the semiconductor and computer electronics sectors, fueled by demand for AI, 5G, and high-performance computing. In the first two months of this year, national industrial electricity consumption rose 1.31% year-on-year, while the semiconductor industry’s electricity indicator remained in the “red,” signaling strong expansion. Taipower Chair Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) said electricity demand tied to AI-related plant construction is expected to exceed five million kilowatt-hours between 2026 and 2030, with annual increases of about one million kWh. If AI data centers operate at full capacity, they could add nearly nine billion kWh of electricity consumption annually. Total demand could reach 350 billion kWh by 2030, surpassing Taipower’s earlier 2034 forecast of 337.2 billion kWh. According to a Ministry of Economic Affairs supply-and-demand report released last year, planned additions include two gas-fired units in Mailiao scheduled for 2029 and a gas-fired unit in Xiehe expected in 2032. However, uncertainty remains surrounding the progress of these planned power plants, potentially further straining supply. Coal-fired units such as those at Xingda Power Plant have been put on standby status and would only be used in emergencies due to public health concerns and political sensitivities. Analysts say this leaves nuclear energy as a potential option to address future shortfalls. Speaking on Saturday at an Entrepreneur Club event, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) noted a proposal to restart the No. 2 and No. 3 Nuclear Power Plants would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of March. His remarks were met with skepticism across party lines, though there is broad agreement that Taiwan faces a risk of power shortages by 2032. Sources said the Presidential Office and Cabinet are treating the issue with urgency, particularly in light of rising AI-related demand and continued expansion by TSMC. Officials said internal discussions have focused on contingency planning for a potential supply gap during Lai’s term. Lee Min (李敏), a former nuclear engineering professor at National Tsing Hua University, said the government’s assurances of no power shortages before 2032 are unrealistic given AI-driven consumption trends. He added that restarting nuclear plants would take years, requiring early preparation. Recent amendments to the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act allow nuclear plants to extend operations by up to 20 years beyond the previous 40-year limit. Taipower has submitted an assessment report, approved by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, on the feasibility of restarting the No. 2 and No. 3 Nuclear Power Plants. The utility is expected to submit a restart plan for the No. 3 Nuclear Power Plant to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month. If approved, the process would move to fuel procurement, preparation, and licensing before operations could resume. The No. 3 Nuclear Power Plant is not expected to be restarted before 2028, while inspections required for the Second Nuclear Power Plant could take even longer, officials said. |
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| Sean Scanlan Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2026-03-24 |
