SemiconductorsBRIEF

Taipower's New Kaohsiung Transmission Line Goes Live Aug 1, Doubling Power Capacity Near TSMC's Kaohsiung Fab

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NathanTechnology Editor · Technical Lead
Published · Updated
According to Liberty Times and CNA (Central News Agency), Taipower (台電) completed the Kaohsiung–Xiongji Lines 3 and 4 on August 1, 2026, raising power capacity near TSMC's (台積電) Kaohsiung fab from about 400MW to over 1,000MW. The 9.6km line, crossing Sanmin, Gushan, and Zuoying districts, was finished in 15 months versus an original 42-month plan.

Completion and Capacity Doubling for the Nanzi Park

Taipower (台電) announced that the "Kaohsiung–Xiongji Lines 3 and 4 (Kaohsiung–Gaolian)" transmission project was completed and connected to the grid on August 1, 2026, according to Liberty Times. CNA (Central News Agency) reported the same milestone, describing the line as "formally completed and energized" on August 1.

Both outlets cite identical figures for the impact on the Nanzi Park (楠梓園區), home to TSMC's (台積電) Kaohsiung fab: current power demand in the park stands at about 400MW (megawatts), and Taipower said the completed line raises available supply capacity to over 1,000MW. A second Liberty Times article confirms the same 400MW-to-over-1,000MW figures, attributing them directly to Taipower's own announcement. Measured against the pre-project demand baseline, the completed line more than doubles the park's available supply headroom.

Route: 9.6km Line Crossing Three Kaohsiung Districts

According to CNA, construction on the "Kaohsiung–Xiongji Lines" began in May last year (2025). The line runs approximately 9.6 kilometers, with construction spanning Kaohsiung's Sanmin, Gushan, and Zuoying districts — a route confirmed independently by both the first and second Liberty Times reports, which describe the same 9.6km length and three-district span.

Schedule: Construction Time Cut from 42 to 15 Months

The most notable operational detail across all three source reports is the compressed build schedule. CNA reported that the project's original schedule called for 42 months of construction, but Taipower completed the line in 15 months — arriving more than two years ahead of the original timeline. Both Liberty Times reports state the identical figures: a reduction from a planned 42 months to an actual 15 months, with completion more than two years early.

MetricValueReported by
Completion dateAugust 1, 2026Liberty Times, CNA
Nanzi Park current demand~400 MWLiberty Times, CNA
Post-completion supply capacityOver 1,000 MWLiberty Times, CNA
Line length~9.6 kmLiberty Times, CNA
Districts crossedSanmin, Gushan, ZuoyingLiberty Times, CNA
Construction startMay 2025CNA
Original schedule42 monthsLiberty Times, CNA
Actual construction time15 monthsLiberty Times, CNA
Time saved vs. planMore than 2 yearsLiberty Times, CNA
Initial operating voltage161 kVLiberty Times
Planned future upgrade voltage345 kVLiberty Times

Voltage Design and Leadership at the Launch

Liberty Times reported that the new line was engineered to accommodate the park's initial 161kV (kilovolt) operating requirement while leaving flexibility for a future upgrade to 345kV as demand grows. At the completion ceremony, Taipower Chairman Zeng Wensheng (曾文生) and General Manager Guo Tianhe (郭天合) attended alongside frontline engineering staff to mark the line's activation, a detail reported independently by both Liberty Times and CNA. CNA's account specifically frames their attendance as "witnessing the activation of a key Kaohsiung power infrastructure project."

What This Means

Across the three reports, the numbers form a consistent picture: a project originally budgeted at 42 months was delivered in 15, arriving more than two years ahead of schedule, and doubling the Nanzi Park's power ceiling from roughly 400MW to over 1,000MW just as the initial 161kV configuration goes live. The line's built-in headroom for a future 345kV upgrade — combined with the chairman's and general manager's attendance at the launch — indicates Taipower positioned this specific corridor as a multi-year capacity buffer for the park rather than a one-time fix for current demand.

📊 Evidence

FAQ

When did the Kaohsiung–Xiongji Lines 3 and 4 go into service?

August 1, 2026, according to both Liberty Times and CNA (Central News Agency).

How much did the project shorten its construction schedule?

From an original 42-month plan to 15 months of actual construction, arriving more than two years ahead of schedule, per Liberty Times and CNA.

How much does the line increase power capacity near TSMC's Kaohsiung fab?

Taipower says supply capacity for the Nanzi Park rises from about 400MW of current demand to over 1,000MW after completion, per Liberty Times and CNA.

📎 Sources

  1. ec.ltn.com.tw
  2. cna.com.tw
  3. ec.ltn.com.tw
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NathanTechnology Editor · Technical Lead

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