The island's government said it now aims to increase industry production value to T$1.158 trillion in 2015 compared to T$160.3 billion right now. "The green energy sector can turn Taiwan into a major power in energy technology and production, as well as provide the creation of green jobs," Taiwan's Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said in a statement. The statement did not say over what period the investment would be made.
The announcement comes two months after Taiwan’s government, the Legislative Yuan, passed a renewable energy act aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy, boosting energy diversification, and helping reduce greenhouse gases. The new law authorises the government to enhance incentives for the development of renewable energy via a variety of methods, including the acquisition mechanism, incentives for demonstration projects, and the loosening of regulatory restrictions in order to increase Taiwan’s renewable energy generation capacity by 6.5 million kilowatts to 10 million kilowatts within 20 years.
Meanwhile, during his visits to Delta Electronics, Inc. and E-Ton Solar Tech in Tainan County and Tainan City on 18 July, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said that the Executive Yuan (cabinet) was making every effort to create a "low carbon island" action model project. The project will integrate many of the achievements chalked up by Taiwan's green industries, while also working to further strengthen research and development. Liu said he expected that the plan will ultimately enable at least half of Taiwan's energy to be derived from renewable energy sources, thereby reducing Taiwan's carbon emissions and putting the nation on par with nations with relatively high carbon emissions-saving capabilities.
Liu declared that the government's low carbon island project will take advantage of technology, equipment, policy measures, action plans, demonstrations and R&D achievements. All of these elements will be funnelled into the green energy and recycling and renewable resources system, including solar energy, wind power, LED illumination, electric cars and green transportation, green buildings, and resource recycling facilities, so that at least 50% of Taiwan's energy can be supplied by renewable energy sources.
Taiwanese companies specialising in alternative energy and energy efficiency such as LED manufacturers Lite-On Corp and Epistar Corp are likely to benefit from the recently announced investment package, while other companies on the island such as top chipmaker TSMC and electronics giant Hon Hai plan to enter the renewables sector, attracted by the sector’s prospects.
For additional information:
