Reconstruction efforts in parts of Taiwan hit by Typhoon Morakot in August 2009 have focused on building sustainable communities by incorporating alternative energy sources and disaster-prevention designs, the Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council said April 2.
Funds from the NT$84 million (US$2.85 million) reconstruction budget allocated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs have been used to set up 12 solar power generating systems to provide electricity for public infrastructure in normal times and for emergency rescue and relief communications when roads or electricity are cut off, the council said.
In addition, 55 emergency power generating systems are being installed in the southern counties of Chiayi and Nantou, along with Kaoshiung City, with all these projects set to be completed on target by the end of this month.
Solar water heating systems have also been put in at 248 residences in sustainable communities built in Kaohsiung City, Nantou County and Yunlin County through the joint efforts of the council and nongovernmental organizations. The systems provide 250 liters of water per day to each household, helping each family save roughly NT$8,700 on its electricity bill annually, according to the council.
Combined efforts with NGOs have borne fruit in other areas as well, the council said. The BenQ Foundation has helped an elementary school in Pingtung County install a 67.5-kilowatt solar power generating system, with excess power being sold to Taiwan Power, while the Delta Electronics Foundation has furnished a primary school in Kaohsiung City with a 10.5-kilowatt solar power generation system and six 3-kilowatt wind power systems, cutting the school’s electricity bill by NT$27,000 per year.
The DEF has also helped attract private sector investment in the Pingtung County Government’s program to convert unregistered aquaculture ponds and wax apple orchards ruined by the typhoon in Linbian Township into solar energy farms. Several of the farms have begun providing electricity this year, the council said.
