In response to the international trend of energy transition and the government's 5+2 Innovative Industries Plan, Taipower has listed the circular economy as one of its key projects for promoting sustainable operations. The Company has pledged to create efficient and sustainable energy resource utilization with circular mindset and to implement the concept of circular economy, and carry out two dimensions of establishing a circular economic business model and improving resource efficiency to promote various circular economic measures. The Company hopes to transform from the linear economic mindset of the past into a circular economic model that gives increased consideration to sustainable development.
Taipower’s Short, Medium and Long-Term Environmental Policy Goals
|
Strategy |
Focus on circular innovationKey strategic dimension |
Establish a circular business model |
Short-term goal - by 2022 |
Medium-term goal - by 2025 |
Long-term goal - by 2030 |
|
Complete the pilot of a circular business model |
Implement the circular resource supply model |
Establish a circular economy system |
In order to better implement its environmental policy commitments, Taipower held an Expert Advisory Commission in October 2020. The commission conducted in-depth discussions on the Taipower circular economy strategic framework and promotion plan for product service applications. Considering the unique circular economy mindset of the power industry, Taipower needs to explore the possibility of constructing a recycling loop from planning and design, resource procurement and power manufacturing infrastructure to power supply, sales, services, and to the final stages of disposal and reclamation. The strategic blueprint framework of the circular economy starts with energy and resources. In terms of energy, Taipower specializes in and continuously strives to optimize the efficiency of power generation, transmission, and distribution, and gives consideration to the development of power reclamation.
In terms of resources, power infrastructure is Taipower's largest asset. The concept of circular construction is being incorporated into the design, procurement, construction, maintenance, operation, and decommissioning of relevant infrastructure and generation equipment. Taipower used the events of its “Environment Month” in May 2021 to disclose the strategic blueprint framework to the public (see p.10 of the special issue of this report). To implement a circular economy within Taipower, the Company has produced more than 20 action plans through hosting a World Café event in May 2021. In the future, it will combine these plans with the circular economy strategy framework to create a circular economy action plan.
Circular Economy World Café
In 2021, Taipower hosted World Café events for the first time. The event mainly targeted internal employees as the key communication group. The purpose of the events was to break the vertical management structure and use a horizontal communication mode to assemble supervisors of all units and systems above the team leader rank. In a relaxed, but focused atmosphere, the ideas and intelligence of employees from all units were brought together to produce a Taipower circular economy action plan. In the future, Taipower expects the World Café model to become a fixed feature of communication and discussion on sustainability issues.
To encourage a full discussion of circular economic issues, the Chairman gave Taipower employees expectations and encouragement at the beginning of the meeting and organized several World Café education and training events to prepare staff beforehand. On the day of the World Café, Chairman Charles Huang of the Taiwan Circular Economy Network and Managing Director Niven Huang of KPMG Climate Change and Sustainable Services Asia-Pacific Region were invited, to emphasize the spirit of a circular economy and its connection with sustainability. Through the three rounds of discussions in the second half of the meeting, a condensed a circular economy action plan was produced with Taipower's characteristics and will be implemented in Taipower's future operations.
TPCreative: A Circular Economy Brand
The TPCreative brand was formally launched in 2019. With the circular economy as the core concept of the brand, TPCreative cooperates with professional designers that use discarded and waste materials generated during the power generation process and combined them with elements of Taipower's identity to explore the feasibility of developing cultural and creative products. Through the display and sale of these creative products, the public is able to see a different side of Taipower. This helps to narrow the distance between the Company and the public and thereby enhances the Company's corporate image.
The WhimsE010 reading light
TPCreative launched a new product on Earth Day 2020. The WhimsE010 reading light is made with wooden beams from decommissioned electricity transmission equipment. The product name "#E010" refers to the code number for the wooden beams in Taipower's warehouse system. It was designed to provide three levels of lighting and touch control to minimize the impact of lights on the overall brightness of a space and instill new value into retired materials.
Promoting the servicification model with furniture in the underground cafeteria of the headquarters building
In 2022, Taiwan Power partnered with IKEA to successfully promote the serviceification model for the furniture in the headquarters building's employee dining facilities. In 2021, the partnership with IKEA was initiated, and the two companies jointly implemented a rental-instead-of-purchase circular furniture model for the renovation of the employee restaurant, which has been in operation for nearly 40 years (since 1983). IKEA took charge of the space design, furniture, and soft furnishing planning and arrangement, as well as subsequent maintenance, refurbishment, and recycling. This approach breaks away from the traditional linear model of manufacture, purchase, use, and discarding of furniture, to embrace the concept of a circular economy. The collaboration is set for a six-year duration, during which IKEA will customize and adjust the style and arrangement seasonally, creating a cozy Nordic atmosphere for Taipower.
Retired cement utility poles are transformed into artificial fish reefs
Taipower utilizes retired cement utility poles to create artificial fish reefs by placing them in suitable marine areas. In coastal waters near power facilities, high-value juvenile fish are released to enhance fishery resources, improve or create marine habitats, and promote fishery development and ecological restoration. Since 1997, a total of 18,517 artificial fish reefs have been deployed in 22 reef and protection areas around the island, providing habitats for coastal fish species, preventing fishery aging, and enhancing productivity in nearshore waters. By creating marine habitats, these artificial reefs indirectly prevent trawlers from intruding into coastal waters.
