Recrystallization in Taiwan
Concept Power Plant Taiwan Architectural Development – design by MEPM Lab Team
2 Sep 2018
Architects: MEPM Lab Team
Location: Taiwan
Taiwan is an island with both high biodiversity and high population density. Currently, how we generate electricity is a huge issue in Taiwan. Taiwan has the cheapest electricity prices for industrial users in Asia. This is because almost 50 percent of our energy is generated by coal-fired power plants. However, using coal increases air pollution and adversely affects peoples’ health.
Recrystallization Power Plant in Taiwan
친환경을 지향하는 대만의 획기적인 발전소 디자인
대만은 생물의 종류와 인구밀도가 모두 높은 섬나라이다. 현재 대만에서는 전기를 어떻게 생산하느냐가 큰 문제로 대두되고 있다.
대만은 가장 싼 전기 공급능력을 가지고 있으며 에너지의 거의 절반이 석탄 화력발전소에서 생산된다. 하지만, 석탄을 사용하는 것은 공기 오염을 증가시키고 사람들의 건강에 악영향을 미친다.
2023년까지 대만 남부에서 가장 큰 발전소가 될 신타 발전소가 완공되면 현재 가동 중인 석탄 발전소 4기 중 2기를 폐쇄할 것이다.
또한 3기의 새로운 가스 발전소가 건설될 것이다. 가스 발전소가 가장 환경친화적인 것으로 증명되었지만 건설에는 여전히 신중한 검토가 필요하다
우리는 미래 발전소가 세 가지 주요 원칙으로 운영되어야 한다고 믿는다.
첫째, 환경 정의의 원칙, 현장에서 지역사회를 위한 혜택, 둘째, 생태학적 무결성의 원칙, 다양한 미시적 생태계의 조화로운 공존을 의미한다.
셋째. 에너지 손실이나 낭비가 없음을 의미하는 에너지 보존의 법칙의 준수 등이다.
황기철 콘페이퍼 에디터 큐레이터 Ki Cheol Hwang, conpaper editor, curator
|
Hsinta, the largest power plant in southern Taiwan, by 2023, will shut down two out of four coal power plants currently operating. In addition, three new gas power plants will be built. Even though gas power plants have been proven to increase air quality, building one is still a huge undertaking, and we need to consider its impact very deeply before we build it.
Recrystallization Power Plant in Taiwan
As a result of economic development in Taiwan, more and more power is needed by metropolitan and industrial users. Spaces in the rural “empty” coastal areas are targeted as sites for electricity generation. However, are these spaces really empty? These spaces are needed for wildlife, for the environment, and even for ourselves. Can we take them all? We need the electricity, but we are suffering from the consequences of air pollution, and coastal erosion and subsidence due to the loss of coastal wetlands.
Vision-Concept
Our vision is to follow natural processes, and to respect everything living on the site, both permanent and temporary.
The salt industry was once the major source of income for the local people, and is now a wildlife habitat, and a historical location. However, it is also an energy source primarily for people living far from this area. We believe the future plant should operate under three main principles: first, the principle of environmental justice, meaning benefits for local communities from the site; second, the principle of ecological integrity, meaning the harmonious co-existence of the various micro eco-systems at the site; third, the law of energy conservation, meaning no energy loss or waste.
Recrystallization is a natural phenomenon. By definition, recrystallization is a metamorphic process that occurs under high temperature and pressure. In the field of geology, the term “recrystallization” means the growth of crystal with the mineral composition remaining unchanged. In the field of chemistry, it means the purification of the crystal. In the field of metallurgy, it is the process of reducing structural imperfection.
Recrystallization Power Plant in Taiwan
For us, our concept of recrystallization is keeping the local, natural, social and historical elements of the site, letting the habitat develop naturally, purifying the environment, and changing the system to one where local communities get greater benefits from the operations of the plant. Therefore, we have rethought the systems in and around our site, including energy, carbon, physics, chemistry and hydrological cycles. The natural environment must be a balanced system. Energy consumption generates better economic development, but at the same time sacrifices the local environment and living conditions. This is clearly unbalanced. Our design will create a new balance by decomposing the system and its energy flows.
Heat left over from the turbine generators will go into the economic cycle to warm the local fish farms, or into the social cycle to be reused by the local community. There will be no CO2 or particles, such as PM2.5 or PM10 released from the plant. It will be captured on site. Even though it is impossible for the site to be carbon neutral, because the energy generated is transmitted and used off-site, our proposed plan utilizes virtually the entire plant as a carbon sink to maximize carbon sequestration naturally.
Recrystallization Power Plant in Taiwan Recrystallization Power Plant in Taiwan
Masterplan
A next-generation power plant should play the role of “recrystallizing” the original elements of its location, including habitat, nature, and social welfare.
First, from the perspective of migrating birds, the compact, ecofriendly power plant is located on the least environmentally sensitive part of the site and is hidden by a natural skin. Three centralized air chimneys provide a green structure to serve both energy and ecological purposes. The plant forms a shape that follows the seasonal air current, which will lead the migrating birds down into the diverse wetland habitats.
From the roof level, we can see how the plant itself is in fact a carbon sink. Solar panels on the top will be repositioned from the photovoltaic system currently located in the southwest of the site. Below the solar panels is a double skin green façade that connects to the centralized chimneys. The inner layer of the skin protects the power plant, and the outer layer will provide space for plants and maximize carbon sequestration. Air flow between the layers will reduce the building temperature, provide natural ventilation for wetlands, and change the local micro-climate to improve air quality.
From the ground level, diverse wetlands, open water, ponds, marshes and mangroves will be restored based on natural wildlife habitats. The sociocultural life for local communities will be reconnected to the site through various activities. People will enjoy sports, swimming, walking, and bird watching in a natural setting without visual and noise disturbance from the plant. Our design uses a topographical approach which forms a harmonious earth-scape that blends human activities safely into the site. The site will welcome visitors to get close to the natural environment, learn about local history, and understand the process of power generation. We believe this will help people to understand the value of electricity whenever they turn on the lights
Recrystallization Power Plant in Taiwan
Recrystallization Power Plant, Taiwan – Building Information
Credit: Shiauyun Lu, Jhengru Li, Tzuman Tseng, Hsianghsiang Wang
Competition Organisers: Taipower
Tender: MEPM Lab Team
Member: Shiauyun Lu, Jhengru Li, Tzuman Tseng, Hsianghsiang Wang
Site area: 1,300,000 sqm
Location: Taiwan
Status: Third prize for Competition
Date: 2018 April
Recrystallization Power Plant in Taiwan images / information received 020918
e-architect
kcontents
