Taipower shuts down Kuosheng-1 nuclear reactor ahead of schedule

The reactor has spent its fuel-storage capacity constraints that prevented it from being refuelled.

Taiwan state-owned power company, Taipower, has decommissioned the Kuosheng-1 nuclear reactor months ahead of schedule due to spent fuel-storage capacity constraints that prevent it from being refuelled.

Taipower first announced the reactor's decommissioning plan in 2018 which was then approved by the Taiwanese Atomic Energy Commission in October 2020. 

The reactor was scheduled to be decommissioned by the end of 2021.

Meanwhile, Kuosheng-2 is set to be decommissioned by 2023 as Taiwan plans to exit nuclear power by 2025, replacing existing capacity with gas-fired and renewables projects.

Nuclear energy stands for 6% of Taiwan’s energy capacity.