Hualien Earthquake Disaster / Billion Electric and Billion Watts Donate NT$500,000, Mobilize Energy Storage Sites Nationwide to Assist in Power Grid Rescue Efforts
2024 Apr 8
On November 3rd, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck offshore Hualien. Billion Electric (3027) and its subsidiary Billion Watts immediately launched a donation of NT$500,000 to the Disaster Relief Foundation. The company also activated 15 energy storage projects, totaling 58 MW, located across Taiwan in regions such as Yilan, Taitung, Nantou, Hualien, Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, Chiayi, Yunlin, and Tainan. These sites quickly discharged into the power grid to stabilize the frequency and prevent the severe low-frequency disruptions that could lead to power outages affecting people's daily lives.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the government, Taiwan Power Company, and private sector utilities, the power supply remained unaffected by the earthquake. This demonstrated the "resilience" of Taiwan’s power grid post-disaster and garnered high praise from international media for the speed at which Taiwan's industries recovered. This event once again showcased Taiwan's resilience to the world.
Billion Watts' Yunlin Energy Storage Rapid Full-Load Discharge of 14 MW (Blue Line), Smooth Frequency Drop Recovery in an Instant (Green Line), Key 5-Minute Grid Rescue
In Taiwan, the power grid frequency is typically maintained within a range of 60Hz ± 0.2Hz. However, during natural disasters or unexpected events, if the grid frequency drops suddenly below 59.5Hz and stays there for over 50-60 seconds, the self-protection mechanism of the grid will trigger a "low-frequency unload" to cut off power to users, potentially causing large-scale power outages. During the earthquake at 7:58 AM, within two minutes of the tremor, traditional coal, gas, private gas, and other thermal power plants, as well as wind and hydropower, were affected, causing a drop in generation. At one point, power units were disconnected, resulting in a reduction of up to 3.2 million kilowatts, and the grid frequency plunged to 59.46Hz. At this time, solar power generation was increasing, and energy storage systems began discharging instantly, providing approximately 510,000 kilowatts. This action successfully restored the grid frequency to 59.5Hz, preventing a low-frequency unload and power restrictions.
Experts analyzed that Taiwan Power Company's peak reserve capacity remained within a safe range, helping the system withstand the crisis of a large-scale power outage. At 8:10 AM, when the impact on generation was most severe, the energy storage system's power supply reached its peak at 1.281 million kilowatts. Simultaneously, solar power generation increased by 300,000 kilowatts compared to 10 minutes earlier, demonstrating its critical role in stabilizing the grid. Furthermore, Taiwan's national energy transition plan, which promotes the large-scale integration of green energy, alongside the introduction of energy storage systems and pumped storage scheduling models, highlights the continued importance of building Taiwan's "Green Energy + Energy Storage Systems."
The private AFC energy storage project automatically detects grid frequency and discharges instantly, providing immediate support to stabilize the grid frequency.
The Billion Watts team stated that the critical first 60 seconds are crucial, where every moment counts to activate the first protective mechanism. The AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) of the private sector energy storage system detects the grid frequency and discharges instantly, responding faster than hydroelectric pumped storage units for frequency regulation, allowing the grid frequency to recover rapidly and preventing low-frequency unloading. Additionally, by observing the real-time electricity consumption curve in public data from Taipower, it is evident that recent years' green energy and energy storage systems have had a positive impact. In the future, the grid will adopt a decentralized approach to enhance resilience and efficiency, improving equipment stability and preventing power outages. During the recent Hualien earthquake, traditional power units tripped, and the energy storage system quickly supported the grid at full load, helping to smooth the grid frequency and avoid severe low-frequency issues. This is a significant contribution of energy storage systems, preventing large-scale power outages.
Since the 0403 earthquake, which has triggered 707 aftershocks, the Billion Watts team has conducted round-the-clock inspections and standby services to ensure that equipment remains in normal operation. Their team, with service points in Taipei, Yilan, Yunlin, and Kaohsiung, has established a comprehensive maintenance service network across Taiwan, managing all online and under-construction solar and energy storage projects. Billion Watts is committed to enhancing the grid's ability to respond to incidents, stabilizing regional power grids, supporting government and Taipower efforts, and demonstrating a firm commitment to green energy, preparing for the 2050 net-zero transition goal.
