Taipower's Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 Ends 40-Year Operating Stable Power Supply Maintained Through Gas and Green Energy Diversification

On May 17th, Unit 2 of Taipower's Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant reaches the end of its 40-year operating license. The unit began gradually reducing output in the afternoon and was disconnected from the grid and safely shut down in the evening. According to Taipower, Unit 2 has an installed capacity of 951 MW and accounts for about 3% of total electricity generation. In response to the progressive decommissioning of nuclear units and aging coal-fired units in recent years, Taipower has, since 2017, initiated modernization projects for power plants such as Datan, Taichung, and Hsingta. These include the construction of low-carbon and low-pollution gas-fired combined cycle units. Coupled with the accelerated deployment of renewable energy in recent years, as well as diverse dispatch strategies like pumped-storage hydro, energy storage, and demand-side management, the data shows not only continued stable power supply but also significant reductions in air pollution and carbon emissions. This year, four large gas-fired units totaling nearly 5,000 MW from Datan, Hsingta, and Taichung, along with approximately 3,500 MW from wind and solar sources, will be gradually added to the grid to ensure reliable electricity supply for the public.

Unit 1 of Taipower's Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant was officially decommissioned on July 27, 2024. The operating license for Unit 2 is set to expire on May 17 this year. Pictured: The Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant site.

Taipower explained that Unit 2 of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant began commercial operation on May 18, 1985, and over the 40-year license period, it generated a cumulative total of approximately 274.16 billion kWh. To comply with the expiration of the license, the unit began gradually reducing output starting at 1 PM on May 17th, disconnected from the system around 10 PM, and reached a safe shutdown state at approximately midnight. The reactor core fuel will subsequently be removed and transferred to the spent fuel pool, followed by the construction of dry storage facilities and the selection and establishment of a final disposal site for nuclear waste. Taipower also calls on society to support backend nuclear work, such as nuclear waste management and disposal.