The Energy Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs released the "National Electric Power Resources Supply and Demand Report" last week (21st). According to statistics, the annual electricity consumption in 2022 was approximately 279.45 billion kWh, and electricity consumption dropped by 1.3% compared with the previous year (2021). Last year, the country's total power generation installation capacity was approximately 61.944 million kilowatts, a net increase of 2.54 million kilowatts compared to the previous year, which was attributed to the substantial growth of solar photovoltaics and offshore wind power. The Energy Bureau estimates that electricity demand this year will be similar to last year.
Electricity consumption last year was 279.4 billion kilowatt-hours. The service industry’s electricity consumption increased the most.
The Energy Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs released the "National Electric Power Resources Supply and Demand Report" on the 21st. Electricity consumption in 2022 was approximately 279.45 billion kWh, and overall electricity consumption dropped by 1.3% compared with the previous year (2021). Among them, the industrial sector consumed the most electricity at 156.8 billion kilowatt-hours (56%), followed by residential electricity consumption at 50.9 billion kilowatt-hours (18%) and the service industry at 47.6 billion kilowatt-hours (17%).
In the past few years, industrial electricity consumption has been rising steadily, but this year it has declined instead of increasing. The Energy Bureau explained that due to the impact of global inflation and interest rate increases, supply chain adjustments have caused economic activities in the domestic industrial sector to slow down. Electricity consumption in the industrial sector has decreased by approximately 4.5 billion kilowatt hours compared with 2021, a decrease of 2.81%. On the other hand, as the epidemic situation in the service industry has slowed down, the number of people traveling, dining and other sightseeing consumption has returned. Leisure and entertainment, travel and accommodation-related consumption, and passenger traffic such as Taiwan Railway, high-speed rail, and MRT have continued to rebound, which has increased the electricity consumption of the service industry and transportation sectors by about 24%. billion, with an increase of 5.03%. People's increased outdoor activities have also resulted in a relative reduction of residential electricity consumption by about 1.7 billion kWh, a decrease of 3.18%.
Energy Director You Zhenwei said that as of the end of April this year (2023), electricity consumption had dropped by 3.37% compared with the same period last year. Taking into account the economic situation and the preliminary statistics of GDP minus 2.87% in the first quarter released by the Executive Yuan's Accounting and Accounting Office in May, it shows that some domestic industrial production activities continue to destock, and electricity demand in 2023 is expected to be similar to last year. In terms of long-term estimates, the average annual growth rate of overall electricity demand from 2023 to 2029 has been slightly revised down, from 2.3% estimated last year to 2.03%.
Renewable energy installations continue to grow, but gas promotion is not smooth?
According to statistics from the Energy Bureau, the total power generation installation capacity nationwide in 2022 will be approximately 61.944 million kilowatts, a net increase of 2.543 million kilowatts compared to 2021. Among them, renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar photovoltaics contributed the most. For example, the capacity of offshore wind power installations increased by 476,000 kilowatts, and the total installed capacity reached 745,000 kilowatts; solar photovoltaics increased by 2.024 million kilowatts, and the total installation capacity reached 9.724 million kilowatts.
You Zhenwei explained the future power supply plan. Since solar photovoltaic power generation can already meet the daily peak power demand, future power dispatch will focus on the night peak. In response to the intermittency of renewable energy, hydroelectric generating units or gas units will be quickly supported. It is estimated that the proportion of renewable energy power generation will reach 15.5% in 2025; the target of 20% will be reached in October 2026.
Although the government plans to use gas as a bridge to connect renewable energy, the operation schedule of Units 8 and 9 of Tai Tam Power Plant has been continuously delayed recently, and the reconstruction of Concorde Power Plant has not been carried out smoothly. The power generation plan has been questioned by the society. Taipower explained that Taitan Unit 8 is expected to be connected to the grid to generate electricity in June, so that it can fully support the summer peak electricity demand in July. Unit 9 is also planned to be put into power generation during the peak period next summer. Currently, all projects are progressing smoothly.
You Zhenwei emphasized that considering the long construction time of the unit and the uncertainties such as environmental impact assessment review, local government and public support, relevant statistics or estimates are first based on the current power plant planning, and conservative estimates will be adopted to strive to achieve the installation goals. , and we will conduct rolling reviews every year in the future.
Information source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/237054)
