Energy Administration Refutes Claims of Water Contamination from Solar Panels at Wushantou Reservoir

(Central News Agency, Reporter Xie Yixuan, Taipei, June 5) In response to recent online claims that "solar panels installed at the Wushantou Reservoir are inserted into the ground, potentially releasing heavy metals and affecting drinking water safety," the Energy Administration clarified today that water samples tested by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) met safety standards. The administration also refuted claims that used extreme experimental conditions to mislead the public into believing solar panels affect water quality.

The Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs issued a press release today to address public concerns raised on social media regarding the solar panels at the Wushantou Reservoir. To ensure water source quality, the administration commissioned ITRI on May 13 to collect water samples from the Wushantou site and have them tested by a certified laboratory.

The Energy Administration stated that all test results complied with the Drinking Water Source Quality Standards set by the Ministry of Environment. Specifically, lead, which was a public concern, was not detected and was well below the standard of 0.05 mg/L.

Regarding the misunderstanding of an experiment by the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) of the Ministry of Environment, where extreme conditions were used to mislead the public, the Energy Administration explained that the NIER test involved soaking crushed solar panel fragments in pure water and an acidic solution with a pH of about 2.88 for one to three months. The administration emphasized that water with a pH of 2.88 does not occur in reality, and the reservoir's pH level does not fall below 6.

The Energy Administration stressed that the NIER had already explained on October 22 of last year that this was a simulation of an extreme scenario and that the standards should not be misapplied.

The Energy Administration stated that for solar panels installed on reservoirs, the applicable standard is the Drinking Water Source Quality Standard, which refers to raw water before treatment at a water purification plant. The Ministry of Environment conducts regular tests on drinking water quality, which refers to water that has been treated at a purification plant and meets drinking water standards.

The Energy Administration pointed out that developing green energy and protecting public water safety are equally important. The实测 data from ITRI is the best scientific evidence. The administration welcomes rational oversight from all sectors of society based on facts and should not deliberately distort scientific experiments or cite incorrect standards to create social panic. The government will continue to strictly monitor water quality and strive to protect every drop of clean water in Taiwan. (Editor: Chen Zhengjian) 1150605