Daguan Power Plant

Daguan Power Plant and Minghu Reservoir: Sun Moon Lake's Power Heart and Ecological Treasure Trove. Located in Shuili Township, Nantou County, the Daguan Power Plant is a significant milestone in Taiwan's power development history. It comprises two distinct plants: Daguan No. 1 Power Plant, built in 1918 during the Japanese colonial period, is a traditional conventional hydropower plant. It was shut down due to Allied bombing during World War II and only resumed power supply in 1946. Daguan No. 2 Power Plant, on the other hand, is the first pumped-storage power plant built by Taiwan Power Company. Construction began in 1980 and was completed in 1985, giving Sun Moon Lake Taiwan's most complex reservoir power generation system. Daguan No. 2 Power Plant operates on a unique and highly efficient principle: it uses Sun Moon Lake as the upper reservoir and dammed the Shuili River to create Minghu Reservoir as the lower reservoir. Minghu Reservoir, located in Mingtan Village, Shuili Township, was completed in August 1985. Its surface measures approximately four kilometers in length and width. This power plant system is not only Taiwan's first pumped-storage power plant but also the first in Asia. It utilizes off-peak electricity at night to pump water from Minghu Reservoir up to Sun Moon Lake for storage. During peak daytime electricity demand, water is released to generate power, converting low-value electricity into high-value electricity, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. In recent years, in response to the rapid development of solar photovoltaics, Daguan No. 2 Power Plant's dispatching mode has also changed: from 12 PM to 1 PM, it routinely stops generating power and instead pumps water. After sunset, it generates power again based on dispatching requirements, shifting from the previous 'one pump, one generate' to 'two pumps, two generates.' This highlights the increasingly important auxiliary role of pumped-storage power plants in stabilizing the grid and compensating for the intermittency of solar photovoltaics. It is worth noting that the pumping and releasing operations of the pumped-storage power plant keep the water in Sun Moon Lake flowing, effectively preventing the common problem of eutrophication found in static reservoirs. At the same time, the higher dissolved oxygen levels contribute to a vibrant aquatic ecosystem in Sun Moon Lake, becoming one of the most distinctive features of the Sun Moon Lake power generation system. Furthermore, Minghu Reservoir is surrounded by mountains, with sparkling waters and lush greenery. This artificial lake naturally blends with the surrounding mountain forest environment, becoming a renowned scenic spot.