As Taiwan works to transition to green energy sources, a newer and smaller model of hydropower is starting to gain traction. To learn more about this technology, TaiwanPlus speaks with Stefan Tkac, director of the Slovak-Taiwan Hydropower Research Laboratory.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00So what is small hydropower and how does it differ from traditional hydropower?
00:05Small hydropower plants do not really differ from the large hydropower plants or traditional hydropower plants, if you like.
00:12They are using the same energy conversion principle.
00:15There's usually the same technology installed in, just a little bit smaller.
00:19However, the size, the scale is what makes these hydropower plants interesting to the current energy development trends.
00:26And the reasons are because they are simply easier to adapt to the natural settings, thus mitigating the environmental impact.
00:34It is easier to meet the environmental regulations, which are getting more and more strict.
00:39And generally speaking, they are more affordable and flexible as ideal for developing decentralized energy networks.
00:46How adaptable is small hydropower and what kind of scenarios can it be used in?
00:52The current small hydropower technology represents mature, efficient and flexible systems with a wide range of adaptation to practically any hydraulic scenario.
01:04When you are installing it into industries, for example, wastewater treatment plant.
01:09Another solution is to apply directly into pipelines.
01:12As a matter of fact, this is a very standard scenario because when you're delivering water, fresh water to the city, you're using usually pipelines or wells or something.
01:23And there's a high pressure at some point.
01:25And while you are releasing the pressure through the valve, you can as well generate electricity.
01:31Small hydropower is considered a key target for the next phase of energy development.
01:36So what roles will small hydropower play in Taiwan's energy transition?
01:41The small hydropower plants in Taiwan are at this point pursued as a business development model, which reflects the current development boom, especially in middle and southeast Taiwan.
01:54However, I believe that these systems will gradually play their key role in the development of decentralized energy network across the island.
02:02And this is actually already happening in Taidong area because it's simply too far away from most of the grids.
02:09Now, if it comes to the grid stability, hydropower produced stable and adjustable output for the hydropower plants could actually work as a mitigator, grid mitigator for or voltage mitigator, if you like, for the renewable energy sources like wind or solar.