Latest news with #Taipower
New York Times
07-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
2 Dead and 300 Injured After Typhoon Danas Strikes Taiwan
Nearly 400,000 households in Taiwan had no power on Monday, hours after Typhoon Danas slammed into the island's southwestern coast, killing at least two people and leaving more than 300 others injured. Typhoon Danas made landfall in Chiayi County late Sunday night with the force of a Category 1 hurricane, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Administration. It moved offshore early Monday after scraping along Taiwan's west coast, and was approaching mainland China in the afternoon as a tropical storm. As of Monday afternoon, nearly 400,000 households across the island had no electricity, according to Taipower, the state electricity company. Schools and businesses in dozens of cities and counties were closed. Summer typhoons are common in Taiwan, but they usually make landfall on the island's mountainous and lightly populated east coast. The Central Weather Administration said that Danas was the first typhoon to make landfall in Chiayi County since the agency began keeping detailed typhoon records in 1958. President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan said on social media that the typhoon had followed a rare track. 'The whole of Taiwan will be affected by the wind and rain one after another,' he said as the storm approached on Sunday. The two confirmed deaths occurred in Tainan, the island's oldest city and former capital. A 60-year-old man died after the typhoon caused a power outage that shut off his breathing apparatus, and a 69-year-old man was crushed to death by a fallen tree, according to the National Fire Agency. The government did not give details on the conditions of people who were injured.
Globe and Mail
12-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Northland Power Achieves First Power on Hai Long Offshore Wind Project
Hai Long offshore substation in the Taiwan Strait. TORONTO, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northland Power Inc. (TSX: NPI) today announced first power from its Hai Long Offshore Wind Project in Taiwan, marking successful energization of the project and connection to Taipower's grid. This achievement comes ahead of the second half of 2025, underscoring the project's strong construction momentum. The milestone also includes the commissioning of both onshore and offshore substations, further demonstrating the project's progress toward full commercial operations, anticipated in 2027. 'Achieving first power is a significant milestone for Northland and reflects the dedication of our team and partners,' said Christine Healy, President and CEO of Northland Power. 'We extend our deepest appreciation to our joint teams, partners, and contractors for their extraordinary efforts.' Since the commencement of construction, Hai Long has made substantial progress, including the production of jacket foundations and pin piles, installation of the Hai Long 2 and 3 offshore substations, installation of all 219 pin piles, assembly of Taiwan's first locally manufactured 14 MW wind turbine nacelle and the installation of 14 out of 73 turbines. With a planned capacity of 1 GW, Hai Long will play a vital role in supporting Taiwan's renewable energy target of 15 GW of offshore wind between 2026 and 2035. Once operational, Hai Long will be among the largest offshore wind farms in the Asia-Pacific region, providing clean electricity to over one million Taiwanese homes. 'This milestone is a testament to the teamwork, technical excellence, and shared commitment from all involved,' said Toby Edmonds, Executive Vice President, Offshore Wind. 'First power represents real progress, not just for Hai Long, but for Taiwan's broader offshore wind ambitions. We're excited to keep building on this momentum.' ABOUT NORTHLAND POWER Northland Power is a Canada-based global power producer dedicated to accelerating the global energy transition. Founded in 1987, with almost four decades of experience, Northland has a long history of developing, owning and operating a diversified mix of energy infrastructure assets including offshore and onshore wind, solar, battery energy storage, and natural gas. Northland also supplies energy through a regulated utility. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with global offices in seven countries, Northland owns or has an economic interest in 3.5 GW of gross operating generating capacity, 2.2 GW under construction and an inventory of early to mid-stage development opportunities encompassing approximately 10 GW of potential capacity. Publicly traded since 1997, Northland's Common Shares, Series 1 and Series 2 Preferred Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols NPI, and respectively. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ('forward-looking statements') that are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Northland's actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements may or may not transpire or occur. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as 'anticipates', 'expects,' 'believes,' or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'would' and 'could.' These statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding Northland's expectations for the completion of construction and anticipated timing thereof, the anticipated sequence of construction operations, the timing for and attainment of commercial operations, the expected generating capacity of the project, and the future operations of the project, all of which may differ from the expectations stated herein. These statements are based upon certain material factors or assumptions that were applied in developing the forward-looking statements, including the design specifications of development of the project, the current construction schedule of the project, the provisions of contracts to which Northland or a subsidiary is a party, as well as other factors, estimates, and assumptions that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Although these forward-looking statements are based upon management's current reasonable expectations and assumptions, they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Some of the factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the 'Risks Factors' section of Northland's Management's Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, which can be found at under Northland's profile and on Northland's website at Northland has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from current expectations, however, there may be other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from such expectations. Northland's actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and Northland cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are, unless otherwise indicated, stated as of the date hereof and are based on assumptions that were considered reasonable as of the date hereof. Other than as specifically required by law, Northland undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. For further information, please contact:
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Northland Power Achieves First Power on Hai Long Offshore Wind Project
Hai Long offshore substation in the Taiwan Strait. TORONTO, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northland Power Inc. (TSX: NPI) today announced first power from its Hai Long Offshore Wind Project in Taiwan, marking successful energization of the project and connection to Taipower's grid. This achievement comes ahead of the second half of 2025, underscoring the project's strong construction momentum. The milestone also includes the commissioning of both onshore and offshore substations, further demonstrating the project's progress toward full commercial operations, anticipated in 2027. 'Achieving first power is a significant milestone for Northland and reflects the dedication of our team and partners,' said Christine Healy, President and CEO of Northland Power. 'We extend our deepest appreciation to our joint teams, partners, and contractors for their extraordinary efforts.' Since the commencement of construction, Hai Long has made substantial progress, including the production of jacket foundations and pin piles, installation of the Hai Long 2 and 3 offshore substations, installation of all 219 pin piles, assembly of Taiwan's first locally manufactured 14 MW wind turbine nacelle and the installation of 14 out of 73 a planned capacity of 1 GW, Hai Long will play a vital role in supporting Taiwan's renewable energy target of 15 GW of offshore wind between 2026 and 2035. Once operational, Hai Long will be among the largest offshore wind farms in the Asia-Pacific region, providing clean electricity to over one million Taiwanese homes. 'This milestone is a testament to the teamwork, technical excellence, and shared commitment from all involved,' said Toby Edmonds, Executive Vice President, Offshore Wind. 'First power represents real progress, not just for Hai Long, but for Taiwan's broader offshore wind ambitions. We're excited to keep building on this momentum.' ABOUT NORTHLAND POWER Northland Power is a Canada-based global power producer dedicated to accelerating the global energy transition. Founded in 1987, with almost four decades of experience, Northland has a long history of developing, owning and operating a diversified mix of energy infrastructure assets including offshore and onshore wind, solar, battery energy storage, and natural gas. Northland also supplies energy through a regulated utility. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with global offices in seven countries, Northland owns or has an economic interest in 3.5 GW of gross operating generating capacity, 2.2 GW under construction and an inventory of early to mid-stage development opportunities encompassing approximately 10 GW of potential capacity. Publicly traded since 1997, Northland's Common Shares, Series 1 and Series 2 Preferred Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols NPI, and respectively. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ('forward-looking statements') that are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Northland's actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements may or may not transpire or occur. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as 'anticipates', 'expects,' 'believes,' or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'would' and 'could.' These statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding Northland's expectations for the completion of construction and anticipated timing thereof, the anticipated sequence of construction operations, the timing for and attainment of commercial operations, the expected generating capacity of the project, and the future operations of the project, all of which may differ from the expectations stated herein. These statements are based upon certain material factors or assumptions that were applied in developing the forward-looking statements, including the design specifications of development of the project, the current construction schedule of the project, the provisions of contracts to which Northland or a subsidiary is a party, as well as other factors, estimates, and assumptions that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Although these forward-looking statements are based upon management's current reasonable expectations and assumptions, they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Some of the factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the 'Risks Factors' section of Northland's Management's Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, which can be found at under Northland's profile and on Northland's website at Northland has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from current expectations, however, there may be other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from such expectations. Northland's actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and Northland cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are, unless otherwise indicated, stated as of the date hereof and are based on assumptions that were considered reasonable as of the date hereof. Other than as specifically required by law, Northland undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Adam Beaumont, SVP, Capital Markets416-962-6262investorrelations@ Victor Gravili, Head of Global Brand & Integrated Communications647-288-1105 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
Malaysian Reserve
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Nuclear plant shutdown leaves Taiwan facing energy crunch
Lack of long-term waste storage and Japan meltdown fuelled opposition to atomic power by SING YEE ONG & CINDY WANG IN 1996, a rust-streaked freighter carrying barrels of nuclear waste attempted to dock at Orchid Island off the south-east coast of Taiwan. It never made it to shore. Hundreds of residents, mostly from the island's indigenous community, blocked the vessel with fishing boats and rocks, forcing it to turn back. It was the last time nuclear waste was sent there. 'I told them, if they insisted on coming in, we would burn the ship that night,' recalled Kuo Chien-ping, one of the movement's leaders. Onshore, residents armed with rocks and bottles they claimed were filled with gasoline — it was actually water — lined the pier prepared to defend their island, also known as Lanyu. 'It was the first time the government really listened to us,' said Syaman Lamuran, whose entire family joined the protest. 'Everyone was there. Even my mother, barely 5ft tall, was clutching a stone.' That defiant moment — part resistance, part reckoning — helped shape Taiwan's decades-long retreat from nuclear energy. The island shut its last reactor on May 17, the culmination of a phaseout strategy that threatens Taiwan's energy-guzzling chip industry and its security as tensions with China rise. The move also runs counter to the growing global appetite for atomic power, especially in nations racing to fuel artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and meet climate change emissions targets. Taipower power plant on Orchid Island. The island derives energy from diesel and gets no electricity from nuclear plants Costly Decision Taiwan's decision comes with a steep price. The final reactor shutdown, the sixth since 2018, takes place just as power demand is projected to rise 13% by the end of the decade, largely driven by data centres and chipmakers. Each shuttered reactor adds about US$500 million (RM2.19 billion) in annual liquefied natural gas (LNG) import costs, according to Bloomberg calculations. Taking into account energy demand growth, Taiwan may need to spend around US$2 billion more per year on LNG purchases by 2030, according to a BloombergNEF analysis. Already, companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, or TSMC, face soaring electricity bills, with rates on the island surpassing those at their overseas plants. That's why nearly three decades since that standoff on Orchid Island, smaller and less hostile protests have been organised in downtown Taipei, this time in support of keeping the Maanshan nuclear plant on Taiwan's southern tip online. Over a hundred activists, including lawmakers and staff from state-utility Taiwan Power Co (Taipower), stationed themselves outside the Ministry of Economic Affairs early this month and raised red banners reading: 'The wrong policy will destroy Taipower.' Rising fuel costs and renewable energy (RE) investments have weighed on the finances of Taipower, the island's primary power supplier. The state utility, which has absorbed higher costs to keep prices affordable, reported over NT$420 billion (RM61.18 billion) in accumulated losses by the end of last year. That's putting pressure on the government to increase power rates for businesses and households. 'Taipower can only stop having losses if it extends the life of nuclear plants', because those facilities don't operate at a loss, said Java Yang, a Taipower worker and organiser of the May 1 pro-nuclear demonstration. 'We lost lots of money because the price of natural gas has surged, and we paid too much for RE.' There have been signs that the govern- ment is softening its stance. Taiwan's legislature revised a nuclear power bill on May 13 that effectively opens the door for a restart of the island's atomic plants by renewing or extending licences for up to 20 years, but it isn't clear if the central government will push forward with that strategy. For now, it's too late to halt the closure of Maanshan, which is hitting its 40-year operational limit. Premier Cho Jung-tai said it could take 3.5 years to safely restart a closed plant, citing an estimate from Taipower. Nevertheless, one of Taiwan's opposition parties said it intends to hold a public referendum on resuming operations at the plant in August. A similar vote in 2021 narrowly cemented the closure of one nuclear plant. This time could be different. 'Taiwan's public opinions seem to indicate that this referendum will definitely pass,' said Chang Chi-kai, a lawmaker from the Opposition Taiwan People's Party. 'The Referendum Act stipulates that when a referendum passes, the government has the responsibility and duty to implement it.' Nuclear waste treatment plant on Orchid Island. Lacking permanent disposal site, govt faces pressure to cut nuclear reliance Economic and Security Risks Starting in the early 1980s, shipping nuclear waste for storage on Orchid Island was standard practice, though most local residents weren't initially told what was happening. But following the highly-publicised protests nearly three decades ago, no other Taiwanese town was willing to accept the shipments. High-level waste, like spent fuel from reactors, was just stored on site at nuclear plants. With no permanent waste disposal site, the government was under increasing pressure to reduce atomic generation. Then came the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan — a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the coast severely damaged the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant, leading to a partial meltdown that released radiation into the surrounding air, water and soil. It was the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. That calamity — accompanied by a devastating tsunami — was the final nail in the coffin for Taiwan's nuclear industry. 'Taiwan has many geographical faults and we have a lot of earthquakes, so the risk of an accident happening here is higher,' said Tsai Ya-ying, a lawyer at Wild at Heart Legal Defence Association. 'One nuclear accident can be considered the end of Taiwan.' Following a decisive 2016 election victory, the Democratic Progressive Party cemented a complete nuclear phaseout into law. At the time, the goal was for Taiwan to accelerate the deployment of wind and solar to replace nuclear. But the island has fallen short on those goals. Initially targeting 20% renewables by mid-decade, the government downgraded its goal to 15% by 2025. As of late 2024, renewables made up less than 12% of the energy mix, according to Taiwan's energy administration. To maintain a stable power supply, Taipower is adding nearly five gigawatts (GW) worth of gas-fired capacity to the grid this year, equal to roughly five nuclear reactors. Taiwan's power supply will be stable through at least 2032, Premier Cho said last month. 'New electricity consumption has been taken into consideration, and the addition of new units is larger than decommissioning to ensure a stable power supply,' Taiwan's energy administration added. Removing nuclear from the energy mix will raise power generation costs by NT$100 billion annually, according to Chang, the Opposition lawmaker. Also at risk are green goals: Taiwan aims to reduce its emissions by about 38% in 2035 from 2005 levels. TSMC expects to hit peak carbon emissions this year. Following the reactor shutdown on May 17, Taiwan will derive roughly 84% of its electricity from fossil fuels — up slightly from 2024. Nuclear contributed about 5% of electricity generation in 2024, down from 20% in the early 2000s. While nuclear generates toxic long-term waste, it produces almost no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, unlike coal and gas. Global Trend 'If we phase out nuclear, our carbon emissions will spike,' warned Eugene Chien, a government advisor who heads the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy, or TAISE. He noted that environmental concerns are pushing more citizens to reconsider nuclear energy. In November, a TAISE poll showed 58% of respondents supported nuclear power, while 23% opposed it. That's an increasingly global trend. Even Japan has moved away from its decision to shut down nuclear plants — last month its atomic watchdog approved the first nuclear restart since 2021. Nations from the US to Belgium are taking similar steps. Moreover, Taiwan's reliance on seaborne LNG shipments to fill the gap doesn't just heighten environmental concerns — it creates a strategic vulnerability amid rising tensions with China, which considers the self-governing island to be part of its territory. A Chinese blockade could prevent deliveries and quickly drain gas reserves. With just 11 days of gas storage, Taiwan faces a serious risk if shipments are disrupted by conflict or disaster, Chien said. Even with pockets of support for nuclear emerging on Orchid Island, many of its roughly 5,000 residents remain wary, fearing links between the waste and health issues, including cancer and deformities in local fish. While earlier protests succeeded in halting new waste shipments, efforts to move the existing waste have largely stalled. 'I've fought for 30 years,' said Kuo from Orchid Island. 'How many 30 years do we have in life? I am still fighting.' — Bloomberg This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Taiwan shuts down last nuclear reactor
TaipeicTypeface:> Taiwan on Saturday began to shut down its last active nuclear reactor, officially marking its departure from atomic power. The No. 2 reactor at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in southern Taiwan, with a capacity of 951 megawatts, was set to be completely shut down by midnight local time, after its 40-year operating license expired, according to the state-owned energy supplier, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower). This move fulfils a key promise of the government's 2016 energy plan. The decision was largely influenced by the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. 'This sends a strong message not only to other Asian nations like Japan and Korea but also to the rest of the world that nuclear power is unnecessary,' Jusen Asuka, a professor at Japan's Tohoku University, told DPA. The decommissioning of Taiwan's older nuclear power plants began in 2018 and 2021, followed by the shutdown of Maanshan's first reactor in July 2024. At its peak in the mid-1980s nuclear power provided more than 50% of electricity, but in 2024 its share dropped to about 3%. (DPA)
