With both nuclear power plants in northern Taiwan soon to shut down, a significant gap in power supply is looming. This is part Two of a three-part story on Taiwan’s energy situation: Part 1 Part 3 Taiwan will get an early introduction to the dream of a “Nuclear-free Homeland” this summer when two-thirds of its…
Leading climatologists have issued a dire warning: runaway global warming could occur if the world doesn’t rein in its carbon dioxide emissions. Yet there is reason for optimism – despite the tremendous difficulties entailed in reducing emissions – that humanity will come up with new technologies that will eventually save the day. “We are…
Ten strategic sectors have been identified as having the best potential for selling system integration solutions to overseas markets. The Taiwanese economy limped along in 2015 as an export slump pushed GDP growth down to an estimated 1%. That anemic performance was Taiwan’s worst since the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, when the economy went…
Anti-nuclear sentiment has been matched by enthusiasm for renewable energy and efforts to help combat global climate change. On June 15, the Legislative Yuan passed the landmark Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act (GGRMA), clearly confirming Taiwan’s commitment to the fight against global climate change. The bill, which had been pending in the legislature since…
A “nuclear free homeland” may be the goal of both major political parties. The difference is how – and how fast – to achieve it. Few would deny that nuclear power has been vital to Taiwan’s development into an industrial powerhouse. Always highly dependent on imported energy, primarily crude oil, Taiwan responded to the oil…
The goal has wide political support, but the challenges are immense, especially when abandoning nuclear energy is coupled with stringent targets for reduced greenhouse-gas emissions. With the two major political parties seemingly in agreement to allow nuclear energy facilities to wind down and be replaced with renewable energy, the near term is likely see a…
According to local media reports, the Executive Yuan has proposed amendments to the national Electricity Act that would divide the state-owned Taiwan Power Co., generally known as Taipower, into two separate firms – one a power generator, the other a power distribution network. The amendments would further deregulate the power industry to provide more room…
The New Year Brings some positive news. While no one seems able to agree on whether the new Chinese year is the Year of the Sheep or the Goat, the Taiwan economy broadly speaking bears more resemblance to a charging Ram. The Taiwan economy beat most growth forecasts in 2014 to come in at 3.74%,…
For two days in late January, a total of 173 delegates – government officials, legislators, scholars, business leaders, and representatives of civic groups – attended a National Energy Conference called by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The group debated the crucial issue facing Taiwan following President Ma Ying-jeou’s decision last year to suspend construction of…
