Economy

Electric microgrid launched on Kinmen

An electric microgrid supplies power from alternative energy sources to a school in Kinmen County. (Courtesy of Kinmen National Park)

• Publication Date：08/29/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today

A microgrid electricity storage system developed by the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology in cooperation with the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs began operations at Jinshui Elementary School on the outlying island of Kinmen Aug. 28.

The system is a mobile electricity supply platform that integrates different alternative energy sources, including solar and wind power as well as wood-burning furnaces, said Chang Kuan-chun, deputy head of the institute.

The system, featuring four solar panels and two small wind turbines, can convert different voltages to that required for household use, and generates approximately 80 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day, sufficient for the school’s needs, with surplus power stored for backup use.

CSIST has also selected a landfill in Kinmen’s Jinsha Township for the site of a wood-burning furnace scheduled for completion in September.

Lin Chuan-neng, deputy director-general of the MOEA’s Department of Industrial Technology, said Kinmen was selected for the microgrid system because of its advantages in terms of developing new energies, including a sunny and windy climate.

The system will operate at the elementary school for a trial period of three months before gradually being expanded to include other communities around Kinmen with the cooperation of the county government, Lin said.

The microgrid is expected to help spur the further development of Kinmen’s green energy industry, he added.

Studies will also be conducted on the feasibility of using the system as a source of power for charging electric vehicle lithium batteries. (SB-THN)