On 4:51 p.m., Aug. 15, the six generators of Taipower's Tatan natural gas-fired thermal power plant tripped altogether, suspending 4 million kilowatts of power supply at once, which caused extensive power outage covering Taipei city, Taoyuan city, Hsinchu county/city, Changhua county, and Nantou county. The Hsinchu Science Park (HSP), however, remained intact, operating normally, according to the Hsinchu Science Park Bureau (HSPB).
The accident was caused by employees of CPC Corp. Taiwan shutting a valve of natural-gas pipe by mistake which disrupted natural-gas supply for the power plant.
The HSPB pointed out that given the critical importance of stable power supply for companies in the park, the park boasts a double-loop power-supply system, designed to cope with unexpected power-supply disruption. In addition to an ultra-high voltage substation in the park, there is a 356-kilowatt power transmission line extending from the Hsinchu substation to the park. Therefore, when power supply from a source is suspended, power can still be supplied to the park via the other loop, reason for the park to escape the impact of the power outage.
Hi-tech firms in the Central Taiwan Science Park and the Southern Taiwan Science Park were also exempt from the impact. Hi-tech firms in other areas fared differently. While Micron's Taoyuan plant, Nanya Technology's Kuishan plant, and ASE's Chungli plant managed to operate normally, photovoltaic firms Danen and Green Energy in Taoyuan's Kuanyin Industrial Park were affected by the power outage, with their loss still being calculated. Although headquarters of Hon Hai, Quanta, and ADATA suffered blackout, their capacities were not affected, as their manufacturing facilities are located abroad.