Key Environmental Data in 2024
- Total energy consumption was 2,384,177.75 GJ. In 2024, electricity consumption per passenger trip was 1.20 kWh which has been reduce 4% from 1.25 kWh in 2023.
- The annual solar power generation reached 8,964.004 MWh.
- Total amount of greenhouse gas emissions were 325,887.55 CO2e metric tons.
- Based on the calculation of passenger-kilometer in 2024, THSRC significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions and is equivalent to the carbon uptake of 2,849 Da-An Forest Parks.
- The water consumption per passenger from THSR station services was reduced by 2.045% compared to 2023.
Environmental Sustainability Policy and Management
THSR has set up an Environmental Management Committee with THSRC's Chairman as the convener, and composed of the executives of each department or division, to supervise the development and implementation of internal environmental policies and targets. In 2024, the Environmental Management Committee conducted 25 audits on environmental quality management to assess the actual performance of each depot and HSR station in promoting environmental sustainability. Additionally, the Environmental Management Committee held an “environmental management working conference” every quarter to monitor the progress and performance of each department in promoting environmental projects, ensuring the smooth operation of our environmental management systems. We also promote measures to mitigate environmental impact in compliance with environmental regulations. In 2020, THSRC became the first company in the rail service industry in Taiwan to pass the ISO 14001 environmental management system certification, demonstrating our commitment to environmental protection. In 2023, we passed the ISO 14001 environmental management system re-examination to ensure the effectiveness of our environmental sustainability management implementation, the validity period is from September 24, 2023 to September 24, 2026.
In response to the global Net Zero and carbon reduction trend, we have completed the company-wide greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3) inventory and obtained the ISO 14064-1:2018 external verification certificate each year. THSRC is committed to environment protection, raising employees and supplier's environmental awareness, introducing an environmental management system, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste, and increasing environmental protection expenditure year by year, with a total investment of NT$87.825 million in 2024. Compared with 2023, the expenditure decreased by approximately 15.24% due to the absence of environmental impact assessment variance analysis and the completion of the noise barrier project in Chengbei Village, Miaoli County. We will continue to promote environmental sustainability, including continuous promotion of greenhouse gas inventory and reduction, water conservation and waste recycling and reduction management measures in the future.
Furthermore, THSRC is implementing a three-pronged strategy of "water conservation, reduction, and recycling." It has established an Energy Conservation Task Force, which holds quarterly review meetings to assess progress and actively implement water resource management practices. The station achieved a water conservation rate of 2.045% in 2024. The Company also conducted 2022~2023 water footprint audits in Tainan Station in accordance with ISO 14046:2014 (a verification statement was obtained in November 2024), systematically reducing water consumption per passenger served.
Environmental Protection Expenditure in 2024
Environmental Sustainability Targets and Strategies
Strategies
- Established operation safety and environmental risks relevant units (e.g., Environmental Management Committee) to strengthen the management and supervision mechanism and effectively implement implementation measures
- Established Greenhouse Gas Inventory Audit List, conduct total inventory and verification, and study and formulate reduction measures and priorities
- Through the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure, TCFD project, identified climate risks, and inventory of the resilience of high-speed rail in response to climate risks
- Continue to promote the equipment optimization, personnel education and training, to improve energy conservation and carbon reduction
2024 Goals and Results
- The company-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory (with 100% coverage) has been verified and obtained ISO 14064-1 certificates
- The total carbon emissions from electricity and fuel consumption in 2024 was 325,887.6 metric tons. The carbon emission per passenger-kilometer was 22.41 grams of CO2e, representing a 3.46% decrease compared to 22.58 grams in 2023.
- Through Equipment elimination and optimization and Energy Saving Driving Program, Electricity consumption in 2024 was reduced by 4.81% compared to the base year (2010).
Targets (Short-term: 2025; Mid-long term: 2026-2027)
Short-term
- Continue to conduct company-wide greenhouse gas inventory and verification every year
- Continue to operate Energy-saving Train Operation plan.
- “Carbon emissions per person-kilometer” aims to reduce by more than 1.5% per year
Medium- to long-term
- Continue advancing the net-zero transition, supporting the government's “2050 Net Zero Carbon Emissions” goal.
Strategies
- Establish Resources usage and management policies (including electricity, water and waste disposal), regularly review targets and enhance green action measures (e.g. renewable energy, resources recycling)
- Established resource usage and management relevant team (e.g. Energy Conservation Project Team) to improve the management mechanism and effectives.
- Organize environmental training program to strengthen employees and environmental management representatives of each unit familiarity with environmental laws and regulations and environmental protection awareness, and deepen environmental sustainability development concept
- Improve environmental management and pass external verification by monitoring, performance evaluation and audit.
2024 Goals and Results
- Continuously pass the ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system re-examination (valid until September 2026).
- In 2024, electricity consumption at stations (maintenance depots and stations) increased by 2.75% compared to 2023. Electricity consumption per passenger trip was 1.20 kWh which has been reduce 4% from 1.25 kWh in 2023.
- In 2024, water consumption at stations (maintenance depots and stations) increased by 4.88% compared to 2023. Water consumption per passenger trip was 0.0095 m³, a 1.04% reduction from 0.0097 m³ in 2023. In addition, Tainan Station completed its water footprint inventory in 2024 and obtained ISO 14046:2014 certificate.
- The recycling rate of natural waste is 26.2%, and there are no oil, fuel, chemical substances, or waste leakage.
Targets (Short-term: 2025; Mid-long term: 2026-2027)
Short to medium and long-term
- The average electricity consumption at the station was collaborated with reduced by 0.86%
- The average water consumption per passenger at the station was reduced by 3.42%.
Strategies
- Established Environmental protection specification and operation standard (including the natural environment and communities), noise and vibration management, strengthen environmental management mechanisms and effectiveness.
- Organize internal and external environmental quality management audits regularly, and continue to improve the management mechanism and effectives.
2024 Goals and Results
- In 2024, 25 internal audits were conducted, and follow-up improvement were reported to the Environmental Management Committee regularly; externally, the audit was conducted by the environmental protection unit. In 2024, there was no penalty imposed due to the pollution of the environment.
- In 2024, 15 public complaints were received regarding noise and vibration management. Only 1 case of noise standard violation notified by the local Environmental Protection Bureau for improvement, and no penalty was occurred.
- Maintain the annual 1.143 million sponsorship for the Pheasant-Tailed Jacana Ecological Education Park, with a cumulative amount of more than 71 million.
Targets (Short-term: 2025; Mid-long term: 2026-2027)
Short- to medium- and long-term
- Continue conducting internal environmental quality management audits.
- Continue handling noise and vibration-related complaints in accordance with the “High Speed Rail Noise Case Handling Process.”
