Taiwan’s Sun Ba II Power Plant Wins Award for Energy Innovation

Taiwan’s energy landscape took a significant step forward with the launch of the Sun Ba II Power Plant, which officially began commercial operations in May 2025. This facility has been recognized as a 2025 POWER Top Plant award winner, highlighting its innovative approach to addressing Taiwan’s pressing energy needs. The island, home to approximately 23 million people, faces unique challenges due to its reliance on imported energy, with around 98% of its energy sourced externally.

The Sun Ba II plant is designed to meet the growing demand for reliable electricity, particularly from the semiconductor manufacturing sector, which plays a crucial role in Taiwan’s economy. The plant operates using advanced combined cycle technology, featuring a 2 x 1 multi-shaft configuration that includes two gas turbines and two heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) linked to a steam turbine. According to Thomas Ringmann, director of Business Development at Siemens Energy, the facility employs the latest SGT-9000HL gas turbines and SST-5000 steam turbines, ensuring maximum efficiency.

Innovative Collaboration Amid Challenges

The Sun Ba II project was initiated during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed significant challenges for the team. “Every project meeting, every design meeting, every coordination meeting were all done online,” explained Andy Chang, project manager with Siemens Energy. The shift to virtual collaboration required innovative solutions to maintain progress.

Effective teamwork among partners was crucial. Ewen Chi, sales manager at Siemens Energy, emphasized the importance of a shared objective. “Everybody has the same target, which is to bring power on grid as soon as possible,” he noted. This “same-boat mentality” facilitated the project’s success despite the obstacles presented by the pandemic.

The plant is now primarily running on baseload operation, which Ringmann describes as essential for maintaining economic stability. The high operational efficiency of the turbines is expected to deliver significant economic value for the customer, particularly in a market characterized by high gas prices.

Future Developments in Taiwanese Energy

The lessons learned from the Sun Ba II project are being applied to the upcoming Kuo Kuang II power plant, currently under construction in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan. Siemens Energy and CTCI are continuing their collaboration, maintaining core team members from the Sun Ba II project to ensure a seamless transition and sustained partnership. “We have this momentum and this mentality from Sun Ba II execution,” Chang stated, indicating a strong commitment to future projects.

The recognition of the Sun Ba II Power Plant underscores Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to enhance its energy infrastructure, ensuring the stability necessary for its technology-driven economy. For more insights into the Sun Ba II project’s impact, listeners can tune in to The POWER Podcast, featuring in-depth discussions with the project leaders.