Taipei: An international consultant on Tuesday urged Taiwan to increase investment in geothermal development, arguing that its stable output could complement the island’s fast-growing solar and wind power capacity. Speaking at a media event hosted by the Trade Council of Denmark, Taipei, Vun Pui-lee, Asia-Pacific business development director at engineering consultancy COWI, emphasized the benefits of geothermal systems, which offer consistent heat flow and round-the-clock generation.
According to Focus Taiwan, Vun likened the output of geothermal power to that of natural gas, pointing out the stability and constancy of both the volume of hot water and its temperature. He noted that this steadiness could enhance Taiwan’s energy resilience amid geopolitical uncertainties, as geothermal energy does not rely on imported fuel and remains unaffected by weather conditions.
Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) Vice President Wu Chin-chung, who also attended the event, highlighted that offshore wind and solar power remain the main components of Taiwan’s renewable energy transition due to limited land availability. He referenced data from the Bureau of Energy, which showed a significant increase in grid-connected renewable capacity, from 1.92 gigawatts (GW) in 2016 to 19.31 GW in 2024. However, Wu acknowledged the challenge of solar output dropping sharply between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. while electricity demand stays high, prompting Taipower to adjust its time-of-use pricing in 2023 to encourage more daytime consumption.
Vun pointed out that geothermal energy could mitigate such intermittency issues and serve as a stable, supplementary renewable source to help balance fluctuations in the grid. Former Economic Affairs Minister Kuo Jyh-huei has cited a government study estimating Taiwan’s shallow geothermal potential at around 1 GW and its deep geothermal resources at up to 40 GW, with a feasible development target of approximately 10 GW.
Vun noted that reaching even 1 GW of geothermal capacity would mark a significant milestone, with the Datun Mountain area in northern Taiwan showing particular promise. According to the Geothermal Exploration System, Datun contains Taiwan’s only measured geothermal well exceeding 180 degrees Celsius, reaching 245 degrees. Vun added that geothermal plants generally have a smaller environmental footprint compared to large solar farms or offshore wind installations. He identified regulatory restrictions as Taiwan’s main obstacle rather than technical capability, highlighting that current laws require geothermal wells to be drilled vertically, unlike international practices that permit directional drilling.
Research indicates that geothermal is not a scalable nationwide solution for Taiwan. A 2024 study in Mathematics evaluating Taiwan’s geothermal sites identified complex geology and challenging site-selection conditions as the critical challenges for efficient development. Similarly, a 2024 geothermal feasibility analysis by National Central University researchers inside Yangmingshan National Park found only a few specific sub-zones suitable for development. A 2025 contingent-valuation study projected that economically viable geothermal capacity would amount to only around 100-300 megawatts, even under optimistic public-acceptance and pricing assumptions.