:::
202406/28
The Taichung Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) has utilized the hydraulic head of the Shiwen River in the Basianshan Forest Recreation Area to build a micro-hydroelectric power plant with an annual power generation capacity of approximately 5,500 kWh. The power generated is used for public facilities such as the bamboo art toilets and eco-pond lighting, which will reduce carbon emissions by more than 2.7 tons annually, making it the first hydroelectric green energy demonstration site within a national forest recreation area in Taiwan.
Chang Hung-Yi, Director of the Taichung Branch of the FANCA, said that this micro-hydroelectric power generation facility in the Basianshan Forest Recreation Area not only minimized the disturbance to the environment and reduced the impact on the surrounding habitats during its construction process, but also provides a stable supply of electricity according to the water flow and allocation mechanism, independent of the weather. This not only saves energy and is environmentally friendly, but also showcases the resilience of contemporary sustainable green energy. The Taichung Branch further stated that already in the 10th year of the Taisho era (1921) during the Japanese colonial period, a power plant was set up next to the Shiwen River, which has abundant water, to supply electricity for the operation and lighting of the three timber tramways and timber factories in Basianshan. After a century, the water in Shiwen River is still abundant with uninterrupted flow throughout the year, which makes it an optimal site for the construction of a hydroelectric power plant. To effectively utilize renewable energy, a small, decentralized, and environmentally friendly micro-hydroelectric power plant is used, with a generating unit capacity of 2.4kW, while the power generation efficiency is estimated to reach a maximum of 5,500 kWh per year. The power generation process is zero-waste and zero-carbon emission, which, when calculated based on the carbon dioxide emissions coefficient, can reduce carbon emissions by approximately 2.7 tons per year, truly achieving the goal of net-zero carbon emissions.
The electricity generated from hydropower is mainly supplied to the Floating Bamboo Pavilion, a bamboo aesthetic-designed public toilet adjacent to the banks of the Shiwen River, which will be completed in July 2024. The roof of the pavilion is entirely made of bamboo, creating a bright and comfortable semi-outdoor space, while the surrounding walls are made of rammed earth stacked layer by layer, creating the imagery of the stability of rock and land. This is the first public toilet in Taiwan to combine the aesthetics of bamboo structure and rammed earth wall paired with the green energy from hydroelectricity, penning a new chapter of net-zero carbon emissions for “green electricity” and “bamboo structures.”
The Taichung Branch pointed out that in the past, extensive construction efforts, including excavation and diverting water, were necessary for hydroelectric power generation, which affected the surrounding environment and ecosystem. But the micro-hydroelectric power station at Basianshan utilized the sand sedimentation pond of existing water leisure facilities and set up a power generation unit above it. The area of construction only had about 6 m2 of operating space and only required human labor, which significantly reduced interference to the ecosystem.
Taiwan’s mountainous areas have abundant water resources. The effective utilization of water resources and hydroelectric green energy promotion are crucial for the development of renewable energy in the future. In addition to creating the first-ever hydroelectric green energy demonstration site within Taiwan’s national forest recreation areas, the Basianshan Nature Education Center of the Taichung Branch has also designed a lesson plan called “The Journey of a Tiny Water Droplet” to enable more students to learn about the connection between forests and the use of water resources. It is hoped that the Basianshan Forest Recreation Area will become a model green energy park with net-zero carbon emissions, implementing sustainable ESG initiatives.