The News Lens
Date: 2018/04/25
By: If Lin, Infographic Editor / Data journalist in Taiwan

 

The debate over Taiwan’s electricity shortage revolves around generating power and the sources it comes from, but it’s worth considering the other end of the equation – where does it all go?

Taiwan’s electrical infrastructure has been walking a razor’s edge for the past few years, and the suggestion that Taiwan might not have enough electricity is a frequent matter of debate.

The attempted shuttering of Taiwan’s aging nuclear power plants, protests surrounding the use of fossil fuels, and the lethargic adoption of renewable energy have all contributed to the shortage. However, the lack of electricity doesn’t exist in a vacuum – somebody is using it all.

According to data from state-run utility company Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), Taiwan’s electricity consumption has skyrocketed in the past few decades. Taiwan used 100 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 1995, but this had doubled by 2013. Most of this growth in demand didn’t come from personal use – it’s not like appliances got less efficient during the past three decades. Where did this power go?    [FULL  STORY]