“Taiwan’s geothermal heat gradient, ranging from 48 to 60 degrees per kilometre, is a clear testament to the island’s volcanic origin. This natural advantage has sparked significant interest in geothermal energy within the country”, explains Kevin Gray, a geothermal energy expert and leader of a team at Black Reiver Consulting, who recently presented at a major geothermal conference in Taiwan.
There are also above-ground factors that favour deep geothermal energy production. “Most of the chips we use in our computers are made in Taiwan, and these plants are very power-hungry”, says Kevin. “And while the country wants to retain this industry, it has also embarked on a clear pathway to achieve carbon neutrality. Geothermal energy plays a crucial role here, as the offshore wind sector cannot ensure the base load energy supply. Moreover, there is a firm commitment from the chipmakers to purchase any geothermal-produced MWh to power their operations, eliminating any uncertainty in demand. “This commitment is staggering, amounting to around 20 GW of power”, says Kevin.
Political sensitivities
And why would Taiwan not build new nuclear power plants to replace the older generation? “That’s due to regional political sensitivities”, Kevin says. “This goes as far as the country not wanting any nuclear power generation on the island in the foreseeable future.”
But there are challenges too. For instance, the island is very densely populated, and operational space is limited in many areas. In contrast, the less densely populated areas are very mountainous, which does not make a strong case for installing a rig either. “During the conference”, Kevin adds, “we identified a number of former industrial sites that could well form the starting point for drilling operations. These places also have the benefit of good grid connectivity in place, which is always a major cost factor in integrating geothermal power into the energy system.”
When I mentioned that during the conference, some people got a fright, and I saw them thinking – this means that there will be no geological input required
At the moment, there are a few geothermal pilot projects in the country that produce from reservoirs, but there is increasing momentum behind the idea of going deeper and reservoir-independent. “I think it is the way the country should go”, says Kevin. “When I mentioned that during the conference, some people got a fright, and I saw them thinking – this means that there will be no geological input required” … “But that is not the case”, said Kevin. “There is still the need to do your geomechanics, and you still need to understand the formation you are drilling through.”
Given these factors, including favourable geology, a committed energy consumer, and a compelling argument against nuclear power, it becomes evident that Taiwan is a promising location for deep geothermal energy development. The country’s potential in this field is certainly something to watch closely.
