Renewable energy in Taiwan contributed to 16.8% of national electricity generation as of 2024. Taiwan used renewables to generate 30.02 TWh in 2024. The total installed capacity of renewable energy in Taiwan by the end of 2013 was 3.76 GW. As of 2021, Taiwan had set a target to generate 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025, an increase from the 5% achieved in 2020. This plan is part of a broader policy to reduce coal usage, enhance the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and transition towards a "nuclear-free homeland." The strategy includes adding 5.7 GW of offshore wind power and increasing solar energy capacity to 20 GW by 2025.
Renewable energy policy In November 2003, the government introduced guaranteed prices of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. In 2009, the government passed the Renewable Energy Development Act (REDA) aiming to increase the installed renewable energy capacity in Taiwan to 9.95 GW by 2030. Feed-in tariff regulated by REDA applies to solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, biomass and hydro energy. In 2012, the Million Rooftop Photo Voltaic and Thousand Wind Turbines programs were initiated. In 2014, the Rising Green Energy Industry Program was also initiated. A Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act was passed by the Legislative Yuan on 15 June 2015 and promulgated by President Ma Ying-jeou on 1 July 2015, providing a legal basis for government action on climate change. The measures, ranging from inventory, registration, inspection, management, efficiency standards and cap and trade system, call for gradual, phased process with control targets every five years. President-elect Tsai Ing-wen said in January 2015 that her party aimed to phase out nuclear power in Taiwan by 2025 and to increase the share of renewable energy generation to 20% by that year. As part of its efforts to promote solar power, the Cabinet in October 2017 stimulus package to subsidize the construction and design of solar panel installations on residential rooftops, to be implemented in 2018. The package covers 40 percent of construction costs and 100 percent of design costs until 2020. Furthermore, the government lifted restrictions on illegal solar structures, allowing owners to keep the panels. According to Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津), the plan seeks to cover 100 percent of the construction costs of public solar power stations in remote and Aboriginal areas. However, Taiwan's Bureau of Energy said Wednesday stated the government would only cover 50 percent of the costs "in remote areas." In 31, December, 2020, "Regulations for the Management of Setting up Renewable Energy Power Generation Equipment of Power Users above a Certain Contract Capacity" was launched as the first regulations practicalising the implementation of renewable infrastructure in the specific building development type. The Statute for Renewable Energy Development in Taiwan, as detailed by the International Energy Agency (IEA), represents the government's efforts to transform its energy sector. This statute outlines targets, striving for 8% of electricity from renewable sources by 2025 and the installation of 6,500 to 10,000 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The targeted energy sources encompass a range including solar, geothermal, ocean energies, wind power, biofuels, and renewable hydrogen power.
Renewable energy
Biogas Biogas is widespread in the Taiwanese agricultural industry with 70-80% of large livestock operations having a biogas system. These convert agricultural waste into electricity or heat.
Hydro energy
The first hydro power plant in Taiwan was built in 1905 during the Japanese rule of Taiwan. Because of environmental concern, the construction of large hydro power plants are no longer planned, thus the trend moves to constructing small hydro power plants. In June 1995, Taipower and Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs completed an investigation to determine the potential of hydro power in Taiwan. The research concluded that there is a potential of 11,730 MW theoretical hydro energy capacity, while the feasible capacity is 5,000 MW. Since 2001, contribution of electricity from hydro power has decreased due to the aftermath of the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake. At the end of 2005, the total installed capacity of hydropower in Taiwan was 4,539.9 MW, of which 2,602 MW came from pumped-storage hydroelectricity. Taiwan's largest hydro power plant is the Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant opened in 1995. The plant is located in Shuili Township, Nantou County with a capacity of 1,602 MW, acting as the pump-storage hydroelectricity source.
Photovoltaic energy
In 2013, the capacity factor of solar power in Taiwan was 14%. The total photovoltaic power installed as of 2016 was more than 1 GW over an area of 160 km2, accounting for 0.42% of the power generation in Taiwan. The government has built a photovoltaic power generation with a total power output of 189,492 kWh per year in Taiping Island, Cijin District, Kaohsiung. The project was divided into two phases, in which the first phase was completed in December 2011 and the second one in December 2014. The project was funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In May 2009, Taiwan opened the National Stadium in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung which also acts as a photovoltaic power station. It is equipped with 141 solar panels with an installed capacity of 1 MW. Currently Taipower is undergoing the first phase of photovoltaic project which will be completed by December 2014 with a total installed capacity of 19.6 MW and a production of 24.957 GWh per year. This project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emission by 10,500 tonnes per year. The government has a long-term plan to make the solar capacity become 4,500 MW by 2020 and to make 7.5 million Taiwan residents to utilize solar energy by 2030. To give further incentives, the government has designated solar energy and LED industries as two industries to be actively developed in the near future. The feed-in tariff of photovoltaic energy supplied by small rooftop installations is NT$8.18/kWh and by ground-based photovoltaic installation is NT$5.62/kWh.
Wind energy
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