Some politicians are not sure whether they are coming or going on the issue of Taiwan’s electricity development. They need to stay abreast of developments.
When the Ministry of Economic Affairs said the electricity supply was sufficient, these politicians said it would not be adequate in the future.
When the ministry proposed to import green electricity from the Philippines, they questioned the feasibility of the plan.
When experts said it would be feasible to import green electricity from the Philippines, these same politicians said it would be too costly.
When some international enterprises showed their willingness to purchase green electricity, they said the supply would be insufficient.
The fact is that Taiwan has an adequate electricity supply. If we could increase the supply of green electricity, it would attract foreign investment, too.
During an interpellation session at the Legislative Yuan, a lawmaker questioned whether Taiwan could supply 10 gigawatt-hours of green energy for Nvidia’s potential expansion in the country.
Taiwan produces 20 gigawatt-hours of green electricity per year, possibly reaching 55 gigawatt-hours in 2026, Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) said.
It is possible to meet Nvidia’s demand, as Nvidia is not requesting a large amount of green energy, he said.
Taiwan is not short of electricity, and yet opposition parties are telling everyone that the nation faces an electricity shortage.
For international enterprises, using green energy is part of their commitment to sustainable development.
Many multinational corporations promote using renewable energy to reduce their carbon emissions and fulfill their obligations to the environment.
Therefore, if Taiwan raised its green energy ratio, it would have a better chance of attracting high-tech and high-value-added industries.
Although green energy is costly, some enterprises are able and willing to pay more. Not only could this alleviate the financial burden on the public in terms of electricity charges, but it could also create room for raising the green energy ratio, leading to a multi-win situation.
Some politicians might not thoroughly understand energy policy, or simply oppose green energy for the sake of opposition, overlooking the fact that they make contradicting statements.
On the one hand, they propose raising the green energy ratio. On the other hand, they oppose green energy because of the potential increase in electricity prices. This is tantamount to wanting to have your cake and eat it too.
These politicians even exaggerate Taiwan’s green energy shortage to mislead international investors, when in fact, Taiwan has a long-term plan for energy development.
There is no risk of electricity shortage. Taiwan needs high-tech corporations, such as Nvidia, rather than labor-intensive industries that bring serious pollution.
Green energy availability is important for multinational corporations when weighing up their investment decisions.
International enterprises would be glad to see Taiwan importing green energy from the Philippines, and would be willing to pay more for it.
The nation cannot ignore industrial transition and developing more green energy if it wants to attract foreign investment. Politicians should support green energy development to create an attractive investment environment and a greener, more sustainable economy.
Wang Chih-chien is a distinguished professor at National Taipei University’s Graduate Institute of Information Management.
Translated by Fion Khan
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