TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Seismic activity on April 3 triggered emergency low-frequency events in Taiwan's power grid, highlighting the indispensable role of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) in ensuring stability. Enel X’s VPP swiftly responded, mobilizing over 50 commercial and industrial users within 30 minutes to provide nearly 30 MW of Demand Response, stabilizing the grid after Taipower issued a dispatch notice at 4:30 p.m.
During subsequent incidents, Enel X’s diverse customer base, including textiles, chemical processing, hospitals, and hotels, activated their flexible energy resources. This proactive response helped maintain grid frequency and stability during critical periods. For instance, on April 15, during another low-frequency event caused by a generator trip, Gogoro, an Enel X VPP customer, swiftly provided 11 MW of critical support by suspending charging at nearly 1,000 GoStations within 5 seconds.
Moreover, Enel X’s VPP participants contributed an additional 20 MW of Spinning Reserves for one hour during the generator trip, with active involvement from sectors like electronics manufacturing, food processing, and hospitals. Rosey Luo, Head of Engineering at Enel X Taiwan, emphasized the transformative impact of VPP technology, stating, "In the past, the grid could only rely on traditional generators during similar incidents, but VPP technology has changed this by using flexibility across industries to respond and support the grid."
Daniele Andreoli, head of Enel X Asia-Pacific, underscored the significance of VPPs in grid management, stating, "By temporarily reducing power usage, businesses are playing an active role in alleviating grid pressure during critical moments." This sentiment was echoed during the Virtual Power Plant Development Trends and Application Symposium in May, where Dr. Liu Wen-Hsiung, President of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI, 工業技術研究院), recognized VPPs for enhancing grid resilience.
Enel X continues to lead in demand response ancillary service aggregation in Taiwan, supporting the ongoing energy transition and opening new revenue opportunities for businesses.