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
Concerns that the US might abandon Taiwan are often overstated. While US President Donald Trump’s handling of Ukraine raised unease in Taiwan, it is crucial to recognize that Taiwan is not Ukraine. Under Trump, the US views Ukraine largely as a European problem, whereas the Indo-Pacific region remains its primary geopolitical focus. Taipei holds immense strategic value for Washington and is unlikely to be treated as a bargaining chip in US-China relations. Trump’s vision of “making America great again” would be directly undermined by any move to abandon Taiwan. Despite the rhetoric of “America First,” the Trump administration understands the necessity of
In an article published on this page on Tuesday, Kaohsiung-based journalist Julien Oeuillet wrote that “legions of people worldwide would care if a disaster occurred in South Korea or Japan, but the same people would not bat an eyelid if Taiwan disappeared.” That is quite a statement. We are constantly reading about the importance of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), hailed in Taiwan as the nation’s “silicon shield” protecting it from hostile foreign forces such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and so crucial to the global supply chain for semiconductors that its loss would cost the global economy US$1
US President Donald Trump’s challenge to domestic American economic-political priorities, and abroad to the global balance of power, are not a threat to the security of Taiwan. Trump’s success can go far to contain the real threat — the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) surge to hegemony — while offering expanded defensive opportunities for Taiwan. In a stunning affirmation of the CCP policy of “forceful reunification,” an obscene euphemism for the invasion of Taiwan and the destruction of its democracy, on March 13, 2024, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) used Chinese social media platforms to show the first-time linkage of three new
Sasha B. Chhabra’s column (“Michelle Yeoh should no longer be welcome,” March 26, page 8) lamented an Instagram post by renowned actress Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊) about her recent visit to “Taipei, China.” It is Chhabra’s opinion that, in response to parroting Beijing’s propaganda about the status of Taiwan, Yeoh should be banned from entering this nation and her films cut off from funding by government-backed agencies, as well as disqualified from competing in the Golden Horse Awards. She and other celebrities, he wrote, must be made to understand “that there are consequences for their actions if they become political pawns of
RSS