Taiwan’s Sun Ba II power plant, a marvel of modern engineering, has just been recognized as a 2025 POWER Top Plant award winner. This advanced combined cycle plant, which entered commercial operation in May 2025, exemplifies Taiwan’s relentless pursuit of energy security and efficiency. The island, a global technology powerhouse, faces unique energy challenges due to its lack of domestic fossil fuel resources and limited renewable energy potential. With over 98% of its energy imported, Taiwan’s economic prosperity hinges on reliable, continuous electrical power, particularly for its energy-intensive semiconductor fabrication plants.
Sun Ba II is a testament to Taiwan’s commitment to cutting-edge power generation technologies. The plant features a 2 x 1 multi-shaft configuration, with two gas turbines and two heat recovery steam generators serving one steam turbine. Siemens Energy, a key player in the project, deployed its latest and largest gas turbine, the SGT-9000HL, along with a triple-pressure steam turbine, the SST-5000. The project also incorporated an air-cooled condenser and a three-pressure reheat HRSG of Benson-type technology.
The journey to completion was not without challenges. The project began at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating remote collaboration. “Every project meeting, every design meeting, every coordination meeting were all done online,” said Andy Chang, project manager with Siemens Energy. Despite these hurdles, the project was completed on time, thanks to effective collaboration among project partners. “The collaboration is not only with our consortium partner—CTCI, an EPC company—but actually with also the customer, Sun Ba Power,” said Ewen Chi, sales manager with Siemens Energy. “Everybody has the same target, which is to bring power on grid as soon as possible.”
The success of Sun Ba II is a significant milestone for Taiwan’s energy sector. The plant is predominantly running on baseload operation, and its high efficiency is a key contributor to the customer’s economic value, especially given the high gas prices. Moreover, the lessons learned from this first deployment of HL technology in Taiwan are being applied to a new project, the Kuo Kuang II power plant, currently under construction in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan.
The Sun Ba II project underscores the importance of collaboration and innovation in overcoming energy challenges. As Taiwan continues to push the boundaries of power generation technology, it sets a precedent for other nations grappling with similar energy security issues. The island’s focus on efficiency and reliability serves as a reminder that in the pursuit of economic competitiveness, energy infrastructure is not merely a concern but a fundamental pillar.