With the intensification of elections in Taiwan, the long-standing energy policies of the authorities, which have caused dissatisfaction among the people on the island, have been repeatedly discussed by various parties. The controversy over "nuclear" or "non nuclear" has become one of the hot topics of discussion on the island for some time.

What are the problems that need to be solved if there is a "core support"?

Slow progress in non nuclear activities

A spokesperson for Taipower stated that the response is to coordinate the parallel generation of multiple units in Miaoli, Taichung, and southern regions, totaling 1.3 million kilowatts, which will be greater than the capacity of Unit 2 of Nuclear Power Plant 2, supplemented by solar photovoltaic scheduling, hydroelectric power generation, etc., claiming that there will be no problem with power scheduling.

The picture shows Unit 2 of Nuclear Power Plant 2.

However, according to Professor Ye Zongguang from the Department of Engineering and Systems Science at the School of Atomic Science, Tsinghua University, Hsinchu, the actual power loss this year has reached 1.6 million kilowatts, making power supply quite tight; Taiwan faces a test of electricity consumption in the summer. Some professionals are also concerned that the small Miaoli Skyscraper unit involved in the alternative plan may experience a major power outage if it is to be immediately put into operation, like a duck being driven to the shelves.

The picture shows Taiwanese nuclear energy expert Ye Zongguang.

The Taiwanese people still vividly remember the nationwide power outage on March 3 last year, with occasional localized power outages impacting people's production and daily lives. On July 1st this year, the average electricity price in Taiwan was increased by 8.4%, and the electricity consumption of high-voltage and special voltage industries was increased by 15%. The electronics industry, represented by semiconductors, is undoubtedly a high energy consuming industry, and low electricity prices are one of the important advantages for Taiwan's related enterprises to participate in market competition. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have shifted the pressure of rising electricity prices onto major electricity consumers, and are unable to solve the problem of unstable power supply during peak hours. How to retain the relevant industrial chain has been put into question.

Many industry insiders conservatively estimate that even if the price increase triggers a strong rebound, it still does not reflect the power crisis caused by the "non nuclear" energy policy. The sudden price increase after four years of political freeze-up may only be the first increase in electricity prices this year catalyzed by global energy price hikes.

Missing the window of opportunity

The 2011 "3.11" earthquake in Japan, which resulted in a nuclear leak at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, was a turning point for many countries and regions to re-examine the use of nuclear energy. As a result, the total global nuclear power generation decreased in 2012.

In June this year, Tokyo Electric Power Company began trial operation of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant's nuclear wastewater discharge equipment. This matter has attracted widespread attention and discussion in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, where earthquakes are also frequent, the people share the fear of nuclear leaks. At that time, the Democratic Progressive Party, which sought a second term in power, established "non nuclear homeland" as the "main card" and attracted a considerable number of voters to follow. Subsequently, it gradually established the goal of completing energy policy adjustments by 2025.

The "divine card" created for the election has gradually become a huge burden for the Democratic Progressive Party's governance. On the one hand, it knows that "non nuclear" cannot do it, and on the other hand, the development of green energy is stagnant, so it has to turn to promoting heavily polluting thermal power generation. The air pollution in Taiwan has deteriorated, and frequent large-scale power outages have caused the "non nuclear home" policy to lose public support.

In addition, Taiwan's concentration of high-tech and high energy consuming enterprises is sufficient to influence the island's economy, which greatly delays enterprise production and to some extent affects the export economy.

Ye Zongguang believes that imposing a carbon tax affects the competitiveness of exported products, so companies do their best to strive for green electricity. In Taiwan, TSMC has bought almost all of its green electricity, but there are far more than just TSMC exporting it. This reflects the widespread tension among companies regarding Taiwan's energy policies at the economic level. This issue is not unique to Taiwan. Some regions have decided to extend the operation of nuclear power plants, while others have chosen to add new units.

The turning of nuclear power policies in other countries and regions has given the Democratic Progressive Party a window of opportunity to abandon its "non nuclear" policies. But until the problem worsens, for the Democratic Progressive Party, which only asks about elections, the "master card" cannot be lost.

An article by Wind Media earlier this year revealed that politicians analyzed that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have decided not to extend the use of nuclear energy during their current term.

However, from Lin Quan, the former head of Taiwan's administrative agency, who had intended to extend the operation of nuclear power plants, to Tong Zixian's statement that "nuclear energy can be reconsidered", the attitude of these two individuals who are close to the top echelons of the Democratic Progressive Party shows that the opinions within the party regarding "non nuclear homes" are not one-sided.

Unclear nuclear safety concerns

At present, the legislative body of the Taiwan authorities has completed the site selection legislation for low-grade nuclear waste disposal, but the subsequent process is delayed due to the unwillingness of relevant counties and cities to initiate nuclear waste issues that may touch the nerves of the local people; The treatment of high-level nuclear waste has not even advanced legislative work.

The picture shows the outdoor dry storage area for nuclear waste treatment at Nuclear Power Plant 1.

Recently, election candidates and large business owners have put forward proposals such as "small-scale nuclear power" and "one county, one city, one nuclear power" on the issue of nuclear power, sparking a new round of discussion. As a nuclear energy expert in Taiwan, Ye Zongguang introduced in an interview with online media that large-scale units with a capacity of over 1 million kilowatts often experience nuclear leakage accidents worldwide. Small nuclear power plants with a capacity of less than 300000 kilowatts have actually developed for a long time, and there have been successful cases of commercial power generation in other places. Compared to large units, small units are inherently safer. But its drawbacks are also obvious, as people cannot accept the potential pollution that nuclear power plants may cause, leading to a strong emotional "avoidance effect" among local residents.

Which place is not using nuclear power to achieve this goal? The development of preserving and even expanding nuclear power and renewable energy can be promoted simultaneously.