Daguang Power Plant Introduction
Daguang Power Plant and Minghu Reservoir: The electric heart and ecological treasure of Sun Moon Lake, the Daguang Power Plant located in Shuili Township, Nantou County, is an important milestone in Taiwan's electric power development history. It features two distinctly different plants: Daguang No. 1 Plant, built during the Japanese rule in 1918, is a traditional hydroelectric power station that was halted due to Allied bombing during World War II and resumed power supply only in 1946. Daguang No. 2 Plant, on the other hand, is the first pumped storage power plant constructed by Taiwan Power Company, which began construction in 1980 and was completed in 1985, making Sun Moon Lake home to the most complex reservoir hydroelectric system in Taiwan. The operation principle of Daguang No. 2 Plant is unique and efficient: it uses Sun Moon Lake as the upper reservoir and builds a dam in Shuili Creek to form Minghu Reservoir as the lower reservoir. Minghu Reservoir is located in Mingtan Village, Shuili Township, and was completed in August 1985, with a surface area of about four kilometers in length and width. It is not only Taiwan's first pumped storage power plant but also the first of its kind in Asia. This plant utilizes off-peak nighttime electricity to pump water from Minghu Reservoir to Sun Moon Lake for storage, and then releases water during daytime peak electric periods to generate power, transforming low-value electricity into high-value electricity, showcasing a high level of environmental consciousness. In recent years, in response to the rapid development of solar power, the operation mode of Daguang No. 2 Plant has also changed: it frequently stops generating power from 12 PM to 1 PM to pump water, and generates power again after sunset according to scheduling needs, shifting from the previous "one pump one generation" to "two pumps two generations," highlighting the increasingly important supportive role of pumped storage plants in stabilizing the power grid and compensating for the instability of solar power. It is worth mentioning that the pumping and water release operations of the pumped storage plant keep the water body of Sun Moon Lake flowing, effectively avoiding common eutrophication problems found in static reservoirs. Additionally, the higher dissolved oxygen levels contribute to a vibrant ecosystem in Sun Moon Lake, making it the most distinctive phenomenon in the Sun Moon Lake power generation system. Moreover, surrounded by mountains, shimmering lake reflections, and lush forests, this artificial lake naturally integrates with its surrounding mountainous environment, becoming a famous scenic spot.
