Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/01/23
By: Wu Chia-hao and Chi Jo-yao

Photo courtesy of Google

Taipei, Jan. 23 (CNA) Google announced Wednesday it has agreed to purchase the output of a 10-megawatt solar array in southern Taiwan — the company’s first ever renewable energy project in Asia — making it the first non-utility corporate purchaser of green power in Taiwan.

The output purchased will be generated from about 40,000 solar panels in Tainan City, located 100 kilometers south of Google’s data center in Changhua County, central Taiwan, but connected to the same regional power grid, according to Google’s statement released Tuesday.

The renewable energy project in Tainan will install poles in commercial fishing ponds to elevate solar panels, which will maximize land-use efficiency. In addition, local aquaculture operators will be compensated for hosting the solar panels, the company said.

Google added that the project is a joint effort among energy developers, including Diode Ventures, Taiyen Green Energy, and New Green Power of Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]