The News Lens
Date: 2019/05/09
By: Nate Maynard
Credit: Wei-Te Wong / CC BY-SA 2.0
At a recent conference in Taipei, January’s controversy over feed-in tariffs did not dampen a sense of optimism over Taiwan’s wind energy future.
Did you know that, by 2025, Taiwan will be the 4th largest user of offshore wind power in the world? Few seem to realize the solid fundamentals that are driving Taiwan towards a wind energy future. Before last week’s Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) conference hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan’s Low Carbon Initiative (ECCT-LCI), I, too, did not appreciate the energy revolution taking place in this island.
Onshore benefits from offshore power
The day began with Lee Chun-li (李君禮), the acting head of Taiwan’s Bureau of Energy (BOE), announcing that Taiwan would increase its wind capacity by 5GW after 2026 on top of its initial plan. According to the BOE, they expect offshore wind to be a significant job generator with output value reaching NT$77.3 billion (US$2.5 billion) and total investment exceeding NT$1 trillion (around US$32 billion) by 2025. This benefit can be very real for local communities.
The mayor of Taoyuan, Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), had equally positive data to share: Wind power in Taoyuan has reduced CO2 emissions by 760,000 tons, generated US$2 billion in investment and created 400 direct jobs with many other indirect ones supporting the industry. [FULL STORY]