Authorities Plan Power Plant Construction in Japan, Philippines, and Others
Taiwan is considering building eco-friendly energy power plants overseas, such as in Japan and the Philippines, and then transmitting electricity via undersea cables, due to concerns that the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry will cause a power shortage.
On the 16th, according to Taiwanese media outlets China Times and United Daily News, Guo Zhuhui, Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs, explained this plan at the '2024 Taiwan Textile Exhibition' held at Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei City the day before. Minister Guo stated that all eco-friendly energy sources, including solar, wind, and geothermal, are being considered.
Taiwanese authorities were inspired by a plan approved by the Australian government in August, where an Australian billionaire invested 13.5 billion USD (approximately 18.3 trillion KRW) to build the world's largest solar power plant in Australia and intends to export some of the electricity produced to Singapore, 4,800 km away, using undersea cables.
He mentioned that the distance between Taiwan and Luzon Island in the Philippines is about 300 km, and although the price of the green energy there is expected to be cheaper than that produced in Taiwan, the plan is still in the conceptual stage.
Minister Guo previously stated in a response to the Legislative Yuan (Parliament) in June, "Five large-scale AI computing centers will be newly established in Taiwan in the future," and added, "Due to the explosive growth of the AI industry, power shortages are expected after 2028."
Taiwan mainly relies on coal and gas-fired thermal power generation, and its aging power grid is considered the biggest problem. Additionally, the power demand from advanced semiconductor companies, including TSMC, the world's largest foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturer), is increasing, causing occasional blackouts.
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