Source: Threads/orange._.0821
One September night in Kaohsiung, the sky lit up orange as flames rose from the Hsinta Power Plant. A gas leak during trial runs of a new No.2 gas turbine had sparked a blaze visible for kilometers, quickly turning into an emergency that drew dozens of firefighters.
Investigators traced the source to a flange on the turbine’s gas heater pipeline, with a fuller review to follow once scaffolding is in place. No one was hurt, and firefighters contained the fire quickly, but it left a lasting impression: power supply in Taiwan remains precarious.
Overnight, the operating reserve margin plunged dangerously low. Backup diesel generators at the second and third nuclear plants were rushed into service, and the grid ran uncomfortably close to the edge. This incident may also delay the commercial launch of Hsinta’s new turbines by months, affecting broader system planning.
For the Southern Taiwan Science Park and its web of critical suppliers and manufacturers, the setback is more than an inconvenience. It forces an uncomfortable reckoning with two questions: how reliable the power truly is, and how ready businesses are when the grid falters.
On Sept. 17, operating reserves plunged to just 4%—far below the safe 10% margin—as summer power demand spiked and solar output sagged. A fire at Hsinta plant and back-to-back malfunctions at Linkou plant sidelined newer gas units, forcing Taipower to restart aging coal and gas turbines to keep the grid running. The margin for error was razor thin.
The sectors most exposed are the ones that anchor the economy and public safety of Taiwan. Semiconductor fabs demand unbroken currents to keep production lines stable; a few seconds of outage can translate to millions in losses. Healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and data centers can’t function without reliable energy—it’s the foundation that keeps modern society going after all.
How Prepared Are We If the Grid Fails?
Hsinta’s fire was dramatic, but not isolated. In just the last few years, the plant has seen operator errors, equipment faults, and outages affecting millions of households. Coal silos have smoldered more than two hundred times.
Waiting for short-term contingency measures offers little comfort to businesses whose operations depend on every kilowatt. The safer path is to build resilience into one’s own infrastructure. Businesses cannot prevent grid failures, but they can ensure continuity when they arrive. That’s why many turn to dedicated emergency power systems.
In partnership with our U.S. generator manufacturer Rehlko, AMPOWER provides emergency generator sets designed to reliably start the moment supply is cut. They are built to keep critical functions alive—whether that’s a cleanroom, data center, or manufacturing. Having gone through rigorous tests and certifications, these gensets confidently safeguard continuity.
The Hsinta plant fire was a warning, not an exception. Fires, storms, human errors, and aging infrastructure will challenge the grid again. What matters is whether businesses are ready when it happens. The time to prepare is before the next crisis arrives.
Get in touch with AMPOWER to learn how we can strengthen your energy resilience!
Photo source: CNA, Rehlko, Taipower, Threads/l75886886, 記者劉學聖, 記者爆料網