Stable Power Supply and Energy Transition: Taipower's Innovative Drive in Virtual Power Plant Development

Taipower's Central Dispatch Center monitors the nation's most up-to-date power data in real time, continuously balancing both supply and demand. Utilizing advanced weather forecasting systems, the center proactively deploys generation units to ensure they are always ready to respond. Every day, it meticulously manages every minute detail to safeguard the stability of Taiwan's power grid.

by Xin-En Wu

As the nation's central power supplier, Taipower has faced unprecedented challenges and transformational pressures in recent years. With the steadily rising penetration of renewable energy, increasingly frequent extreme weather events driven by climate change, and the growing demand for private sector participation in grid dispatch, ensuring grid resilience in the era of energy transition has become a critical priority for Taipower.

"Maintaining a stable power supply is Taipower's paramount mission. In response to climate change and the global push toward net zero, our dual mandate is to ensure both ‘stable power supply’ and a successful ‘energy transition," emphasized Wu, currently serving as Taipower's Vice President and Chief Digital Officer. He further explained that enhancing grid resilience involves two key aspects: hardware and software.

On the hardware front, Taipower has been actively advancing projects aimed at strengthening grid resilience. From upgrading equipment to deploying smart grid technologies, every initiative is designed to bolster the system's disaster prevention and recovery capabilities. "The hardware must be in place—that is the foundation of our ability to provide a stable power supply," Wu noted.

Chin-Chun Wu, Vice President and Chief Digital Officer of Taipower Company

On the software side, Taipower is placing increasing emphasis on optimizing grid dispatch under constrained resources. By leveraging a digital information platform, the company can quickly monitor nationwide grid conditions and make flexible, precise dispatch decisions to maintain system stability even amid unexpected situations.

Wu provided a pertinent example: "Every day, starting at around 3:00 p.m., as solar power output gradually wanes, the power system enters a particularly challenging period. During this time, the gap between electricity demand and renewable generation quickly widens, requiring dispatchers to react swiftly and accurately to ensure grid stability. The challenge is compounded by unpredictable events, such as sudden summer thunderstorms, which further complicate system operations and significantly heighten dispatch pressure."

"In such circumstances, we must be fully prepared at all times. With limited resources, we cannot rely solely on traditional dispatch methods; we must also harness big data and intelligent forecasting to keep the grid operating robustly," Wu stated.