2024 Taiwan International Geothermal Conference Connecting Taiwan with the World to Unveil Geothermal Potential

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) commenced the two-day "2024 Taiwan International Geothermal Conference" yesterday. Renowned figures from the geothermal development sectors of the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand were invited as speakers to share insights on advanced geothermal development technologies, power plant development, and project management experiences. The forum, conducted through physical meetings and online live broadcasts, attracted over 47 foreign companies and more than 600 representatives from domestic industries, government, academia, and research institutes. The hosting of this international geothermal forum aims to accelerate Taiwan's geothermal development and enhance Taiwan's visibility in international green energy development.

The forum commenced with a recorded speech by Premier Chien-Jen Chen, emphasizing Taiwan's cumulative geothermal installation capacity of 7.29MW. A solid foundation has been laid through collaboration between state-owned enterprises and private companies. Completing the amendment to the Renewable Energy Development Act last year clarified and streamlined administrative procedures for geothermal development to enhance review efficiency. Moreover, to promote public participation, project sites must implement consultations with indigenous peoples, and to ensure resource sustainability, it mandates the reinjection of power plant effluents. The government remains committed to creating a conducive development environment and hopes to lead Taiwan's geothermal industry towards progress and development.

(Left) Premier Chien-Jen Chen｜(Right) CPC Corporation, Taiwan, Shun-Chin Lee

(Left) Deputy Minister Wen-Sheng Tseng｜(Right) Energy Administration Director General Chen-Wei Yu

Deputy Minister Wen-Sheng Tseng emphasized that the development of renewable energy is a crucial part of Taiwan's energy transition, with geothermal energy being a base-load power source immune to climate influences, playing a critical role in the energy transition process. Currently, there are 24 geothermal sites in operation or under development, including Mt. Datun, Qingshui, Renze, and Tubao in Yilan, Ruisui in Hualien, and Hongye, Jhihben, and Jinlun in Taitung, with a planned total installed capacity of approximately 61.75MW. The vision is to reach a scale of 6GW by 2050. To achieve this goal, it is targeted to accumulate installations of 20MW by 2025, 200MW by 2030, and 2GW by 2040.

Tseng further noted that effective land management is a crucial issue for geothermal development in Taiwan. Through regulatory management, issues such as land use and compensation for directional wells are actively promoted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and discussions are conducted with relevant agencies. Initiatives such as establishing "The Single Service Window For Taiwan Geothermal Power" aim to facilitate installations. Additionally, to achieve the 6GW target by 2050, breakthroughs in technology will be the focus of Taiwan's efforts in the next phase.

The forum focused on 4 main topics: the current status of geothermal promotion in Taiwan, an overview of geothermal development, geothermal power plant development, drilling technology, and project management, along with a geothermal summit. The Economic Minerals Center and the Energy Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs introduced Taiwan's geothermal policies and promotion status to drive private sector investment. CPC Corporation, Taiwan, explained the current status and strategies of geothermal promotion and technology enhancement, while international experts shared insights into the current status and technological advancements in international geothermal development, allowing participants to understand international geothermal development trends. The afternoon session focused on sharing international experiences in drilling and project management to enhance the management of domestic drilling schedules.

(Top left) NOV, Inc., Director, Alexis Garcia｜(Top right) MB Century, CEO, Greg Thompson
(Bottom left) Steam, Lead Project Advisor, Luca Xodo｜(Bottom right) GNS, Geothermal Exploration Geologist, Dr. Andrew Rae

The summit's highlight was a high-level dialogue between Energy Administration Director General Chen-Wei Yu and domestic and foreign developers on collaboration models for geothermal development in Taiwan, conditions for cooperation with Taiwanese companies, Taiwan's approach to expediting application processes this year, and the assistance the government expects to provide for investment. The aim is to attract more foreign investors to Taiwan, accelerate geothermal energy development in Taiwan, and establish the industry chain.

On the 2nd day of the forum (21st) today, there will be 3 workshops covering drilling technology, geothermal development solutions, exploration and equipment, and a visit to the Sihuangziping Geothermal Demonstration Power Plant. Through small-scale, in-depth interactions, and on-site visits, foreign participants gained a deeper understanding of Taiwan's geothermal development environment.