Taipei, January 28, 2026 – The rise of AI applications and rapid industrial electrification is driving global energy demand to new heights. While the development of energy and power infrastructure requires time and investment, in order to meet the urgent needs of industrial growth, optimizing the use of existing resources to improve grid flexibility and stability has become a core priority of national energy strategies around the world.
Enel X Taiwan, a leading commercial and industrial (C&I) Virtual Power Plant (VPP), announced a partnership with Asia Cement Corporation, integrating the company into its VPP from January 2026. Through this collaboration, Asia Cement will leverage the demand flexibility of its partial production equipment to provide ancillary services on Taiwan Power Company’s Energy Trading Platform, helping to balance grid load, enhance energy efficiency, and strengthen grid resilience. The partnership begins with the Hualien Plant, followed by participation from the Hsinchu Plant, as a key contributor to Taiwan’s grid stability.
Asia Cement’s Hualien Plant will use its raw meal and cement grinding equipment in the production process as the main assets for demand adjustments. The equipment is responsible for grinding the mineral raw materials and the finished product. It possesses operational flexibility, allowing it to reduce load or shut down in response to VPP dispatch signals. By optimizing production schedules and using raw material storage as a buffer, Asia Cement can reduce up to 30 MW of power consumption within 30 minutes when the grid is under stress, equivalent to the peak-time electricity usage of 15,000 households, or approximately 11.2% of all households in Hualien City. This provides critical support for grid stability.
Chang Tzu-Pong, Vice President of Asia Cement Corporation, said: “Energy challenges are unavoidable for all industries. Businesses must respond with sustainable action and see opportunities amid challenges. To fulfill its commitment to sustainability, Asia Cement Corporation has long been dedicated to low-carbon cement development, promoting the circular economy to replace certain raw materials and fuels, enhancing energy efficiency, and reducing its carbon footprint through renewable energy investment. By participating in a VPP and providing Demand Response services, we’re embracing a circular economic approach that supports grid stability and accelerates the energy transition, without disrupting operations. It’s a key strategy to strengthen both operational resilience and corporate sustainability.”
The Enel X VPP aggregates the demand flexibility of C&I energy users, strengthening grid resilience and advancing a more reliable and cleaner energy future through faster, more agile, and cost-effective solutions. The two companies are both committed to ESG governance and innovation. After recognizing the value of VPPs in dynamically managing electricity demand to stabilize grid supply and demand, Asia Cement proactively assessed and joined the program. Their participation demonstrates the determination of high-energy-consuming industries to take responsibility for energy stewardship, supporting Taiwan’s grid stability while generating additional revenue and achieving both environmental and economic benefits.
Enel X worked closely with Asia Cement to conduct detailed studies and design customized Energy Reduction Plans for each plant, ensuring both technical and operational reliability. Ming-Chin Yang, Chief Deputy Plant Manager of Hualien Plant, Asia Cement Corporation, stressed: “Asia Cement Corporation began actively developing its cement production control system as early as forty years ago. We utilize our self-developed ACTEC control system for cement production, storage and transportation, waste heat recovery power generation, and full shore power facilities for ships and ports. In 2016, we obtained ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification and have continuously pursued energy-saving optimization improvements, enhancing energy utilization efficiency, replacing energy-efficient equipment, installing solar power, and participating in Demand Response programs. We also plan to implement behind-the-meter energy storage in the future. Enel X’s professionalism was a key reason for our decision to collaborate. The easy-to-use Flex platform gives us real-time visibility into our electricity consumption, while Enel X’s expert team monitors performance and provides real-time guidance before, during, and after each dispatch event. This, combined with our ACTEC control system, enables us to respond to grid demands in time, safely and precisely.”
Beyond the cement sector, industries such as semiconductors and electronics, chemicals, healthcare, data centers, steel, hospitality, retail, and hypermarkets all possess significant flexibility in their energy usage. By joining a VPP, these businesses can temporarily adjust power loads during periods of grid stress to support system stability. Since entering the Taiwan market in 2017, Enel X has aggregated nearly 270 MW of Demand Response capacity across a wide range of industries, including large energy users from high-tech, manufacturing, chemicals, healthcare, and commercial sectors, making it Taiwan’s largest Demand Response aggregator.
The growing participation of businesses reflects a shared commitment to society and sustainability, while strengthening Taiwan’s energy resilience and helping ensure a more stable and competitive electricity price for all users. Businesses can also generate additional revenue and optimize energy costs while maintaining stable operations. As more industries join in in the future, VPP will become a key pillar supporting Taiwan’s grid stability and driving the nation’s energy transition forward.
