Looks Great, Works Even Better: Gugler’s First Project in Taiwan
Gugler Water Turbines celebrates important milestone: the successful commissioning of the Hushan small hydropower plant in Taiwan. This marks not only our first completed project in the country but also a prime example of how modern hydropower can be efficiently integrated into essential public infrastructure.
The Hushan SHP plant is located near the city of Douliu in Taiwan. It utilizes the water flow from the nearby Hushan reservoir, which was originally built to provide drinking water to the Yunlin district. The unique setup allows the hydropower plant to generate clean energy while supporting the ongoing water supply needs of the community.
Project was realized in close partnership with AES Mega, a Taiwanese company focusing on sustainable energy development.
Technical Highlights
The heart of the Hushan plant is a horizontal-axis Francis turbine, perfectly matched to the site’s hydraulic conditions.
Flow rate: 3,0 m³/s
Net head: 60,74 m
Installed capacity: 1,657 kW
This custom-built turbine, combined with a robust control and automation system, ensures stable, high-efficiency energy generation with minimal maintenance. All key components were engineered and assembled in Europe, then shipped to Taiwan by sea. Despite logistical challenges, including rerouting due to regional instability, the project timeline remained on track.
Seamless Integration with Existing Infrastructure
One of the technical challenges was integrating the new turbine into the existing DN1800 penstock infrastructure. This required precise installation between fixed pipe axes and the inclusion of a bypass system, which guarantees uninterrupted water supply to the adjacent treatment plant even during maintenance.
Modern Automation and Control
The plant operates fully automatically, thanks to a modern control system developed by Gugler’s Austrian subsidiary, H&W Control GmbH. It allows local and remote monitoring, including online access from AES Mega’s headquarters in Taipei.
Design That Speaks Sustainability
Beyond its technical achievements, the Hushan power plant is also architecturally impressive. Designed by Japanese architect Hojo Kenji, the building features large glass facades that offer visitors a direct view of the turbine and generator, combining functionality with aesthetic appeal
The successful completion of the Hushan project highlights what’s possible when European engineering meets local vision. It sets a benchmark for future SHP initiatives in Taiwan and across Asia. Gugler is proud to have contributed to this innovative step toward a more sustainable and resilient energy system.
(April 2025)
About GUGLER Water Turbines GmbH:
GUGLER Water Turbines GmbH is a leading supplier of – state of the art – turbine technology, supplying all types of Francis, Kaplan and Pelton turbines up to 40 MW per unit and related electro-mechanical equipment for small and medium sized hydro power plants (water to wire).
GUGLER Water Turbines GmbH supplies also special turbines, such as micro turbines, container turbines, siphon turbines, gates turbines, turbines for drinking water, waste water and salt water systems on a global basis.
