According to the recently released Global Electricity Review 2024, renewables have reached new highs in 2023 and generated a record 30 percent of global electricity, driven by growth in solar and wind, which heralded in a new era of falling fossil generation.
Every government has been making efforts to promote green energy due to global warming and Taiwan is not an exception.
During the recent second 2050 Net Zero City Expo in March at Nangang Exhibition Centre in Taipei, National Taiwan Ocean University had exhibited the technology of floating wind power platform, which enables the expansion of offshore wind farms and the installation of larger wind turbines. In the future, this technology may even surpass that of the wind damper of the Taipei 101 Building which helps to reduce the vibration brought about by strong winds and earthquakes, making it another well-known benchmark of innovation in Taiwan.
The new technology combines wind, earthquake and wave resistance systems that work to reduce system movement and stabilize the generator set through anchoring and load adjustment, thereby improving power generation efficiency.
Hsu Tai-Wen, principal of National Taiwan Ocean University told Marine Fairtrade that the university is committed to promoting net-zero transformation and using technological innovation as the cornerstone to create a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future.
National Taiwan Ocean University’s research team. Photo credit: Patricia Cheung
Other innovations
Professor Weng Wen-Kai’s team worked on a wave power generation system with fixed point absorption. They improved the efficiency of the wave generator and used a cylindrical floating body plus connecting rods, making a better shape. The goal is to adapt to Taiwan’s different sea and wave conditions in summer and winter. The system includes a vertical rotating floating body and an energy transfer system to improve power generation efficiency.
The research team led by Professor Chou Wen-Chen conducted aquatic plant carbon storage in the aquatic animal and plant conservation areas in northern and central Taiwan, providing important data for the conservation of marine ecosystems.
Professor Kao Sheng-Long’s research team developed smart ship virtual reality simulation technology. He shared, “Through VR port scenes, ship operations are simulated, and drills are provided to strengthen crew skills.” At the same time, they optimize navigation trajectories, study the impact of climate and human factors on ship maneuvering, improve maritime safety and reduce training costs through data analysis. This brings new possibilities to smart ships.
Another research led by Kao is related to hydrogen-fired power generation. This provides a clean energy solution that generates electricity through the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell, producing only water and heat energy. Helping to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, a hydrogen-fired coffee machine was displayed on site to demonstrate the practical application of clean energy to the public and present the potential of hydrogen energy as a sustainable energy source.
Professor Nan Fan-Hua’s team made efforts on a series of green aquaculture technologies, including LNG cold drainage aquaculture technology, fishery and electricity symbiosis aquaculture technology, as well as intelligent aquaculture environment monitoring and production decision-making system.
“By introducing fishery and electricity symbiosis aquaculture technology to operators in Pingtung, Tainan and other places, aquaculture companies are able to monitor the current status of aquaculture through the Internet and therefore can avoid losses,” said Nan.
Top photo credit: National Taiwan Ocean University. Principal Hsu (left) and the model of floating wind power platform.
