First in Taiwan! Kaohsiung’s Qianguang Temple Transforms into a Green Temple, Letting You Pray While You Charge

Installing a charging station next to a temple so you can drive an electric vehicle (EV) to pray without "range anxiety"—the first case of this in Taiwan is right here in Kaohsiung! Buima Energy, which has been actively expanding into the energy storage market, partnered with Phihong’s subsidiary Zerova, Darfon, and Hetong Green Energy to build an EV charging station for Kaohsiung’s Qianguang Temple. Notably, this is a "Green Energy Charging Station" powered by solar energy, bringing new technology into a traditional local center of faith.

July 22nd marked the birthday of the main deity at Kaohsiung’s Qianguang Temple. This year, the method of thanksgiving was quite unique. Instead of traditional Taiwanese opera or puppet shows, the offering was an EV charging station integrating solar and energy storage.

"Using technology to offer thanks to the gods shows them the evolution of modern society. Temples shouldn't just restore the old as it was to preserve the original look; they must also 'restore the old with the new.' This 'new' is technology," said Chen Disheng, Chairman of Qianguang Temple, happily. He noted that while temples have lights and fire, they also have a large carbon footprint, so Qianguang Temple combined the current decarbonization trend to bring new technology into the historic temple.

Buima Energy (KY5543) is the key enabler helping Qianguang Temple become a green temple. Buima Energy General Manager Harvey Chuang explained that the temple's demonstration charging station uses solar panels to generate electricity, paired with Buima Energy’s proprietary "Energy Storage Wall" system. Strategic partner Zerova (a subsidiary of Phihong) assisted in setting up small-scale 60kW AC charging piles. A 30-minute charge provides an EV with a range of approximately 100 kilometers.

Now, driving an EV to Qianguang Temple to pray allows you to charge your car at the same time—and it’s charging with "green power"! Zhuang Hongwei laughed, noting that Chairman Chen is very creative in combining tradition with innovation. By storing the electricity generated by the sun during the day, the temple's lighting fixtures can also be powered, achieving multiple benefits at once.

"Green Temple" Takes Shape: Charging Station Powered by Solar Energy

Before Qianguang Temple transformed into a "Green Temple," there was actually an urban legend about it. Chen Disheng laughed, saying that a long time ago, the temple didn't have electricity and was pitch black at night. Nearby residents curiously asked, "Is this (Qianguang Temple) an abandoned building?"

Later, funds were raised to install lighting, but the temple discovered another problem: because the lights had to be on 24 hours a day, it led to high electricity bills and high carbon emissions.

Buima Energy, which has been actively developing its energy business in recent years, saw the difficulties Qianguang Temple was facing. They brought in companies like Zerova, Darfon (8163), and Hetong Green Energy to build a "Small and Medium-sized EV Charging Station Storage and Charging Integrated Solution" for this local center of faith.

The charging station demonstration site began operations on July 21st. During his presentation under the scorching sun, General Manager Zhuang Hongwei could not hide his excitement despite sweating profusely. He explained that Buima Energy built an energy storage wall next to the charging station using the "B.E.S.T" system, jointly developed by the company, Phihong, and Darfon. It consists of four energy storage panels (100V each), elevated to prevent flooding, and a controller to regulate the energy supply.

As for the 40 solar panels installed on the temple's roof, they can store 16 kWh of electricity per day. It is estimated that the 8 large lights inside the temple consume 1.5 kWh per day, so the green energy supply is more than sufficient. Because the green energy is self-generated and self-consumed, the electricity bill, which used to be over 10,000 TWD every two months, is expected to be reduced by two-thirds.

Aggressively Entering the Energy Storage Market: Buima Energy Goes Global

The charging station is just one step in Buima Energy's push into the energy storage market. Zhuang Hongwei stated that the B.E.S.T energy storage wall system is favored by clients in many countries due to its thin, wall-mounted characteristics that do not take up space. Given the many power supply restrictions in prime urban areas globally, the storage wall system has a chance to break into the Japanese and European markets. Currently, the company is targeting clients such as parking lot charging facility operators for development.

In addition, Buima Energy and Zerova signed an MOU months ago to combine energy storage with charging stations. Zhuang Hongwei mentioned that the two parties have collaborated for a long time. Earlier this year, they took the B.E.S.T energy storage wall system to an exhibition in Tokyo, where it received a high volume of inquiries and secured several orders. It is expected to pass Japanese safety regulations by the end of the year, becoming a new driver for the company's revenue starting next year.  Article Information

• Source: Global Views Monthly (遠見雜誌)

• Published Date: July 25, 2024

• Original Article URL: https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/114560