Our Taiwan energy transition guide is a practical resource to let you understand the current energy landscape in Taiwan and the drive towards cleaner energy and energy security. Our Taiwan energy transition guide will be updated from time to time and covers energy consumption, energy supply, electricity consumption, electricity supply, and renewable energy data. Our guide was last updated on 28 October 2024.
The future of energy: navigating the transition towards sustainability
In a world increasingly aware of the impact of fossil fuels on the environment, the future of energy lies in sustainable and renewable sources. As Taiwan navigates the transition towards a greener future, the way energy is produced and consumed is changing.
In this guide, we explore the future of energy in Taiwan and the key factors shaping the transition towards sustainability. We delve into the latest developments driving change, the challenges that lie ahead for Taiwan, and the opportunities for a more sustainable energy landscape. Join us as we discover how embracing renewable energy and reducing our carbon footprint can create a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.
Taiwan’s pathway to net-zero emissions
Following the international trend towards a sustainable world, Taiwan’s Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050 published in March 2022 has a clear focus on the energy transition with 3 clear action points.
The first action point is building a zero-carbon energy system by 1) maximizing renewable energy, 2) decarbonizing thermal power development, 3) phasing out of coal, 4) building a zero-carbon fuel supply system, and 5) introducing advanced technologies for zero-carbon energy utilization.
The second action point is improving the energy system resilience by 1) prioritizing the expansion of renewable energy grid infrastructure, and 2) expanding the energy-storage facilities for renewable energy.
The third action point is focusing on green growth by 1) creating a green energy industry ecosystem, and 2) promoting decarbonization investment and international cooperation.
Taiwan’s energy transition principle is based on “promote green energy, increase natural gas, reduce coal-fired, achieve nuclear-free” to ensure a stable power supply and to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has therefore adopted a “20-30-50” formula by 2025 to keep itself on track to meet its net-zero goal: 20 percent from renewable energy sources, 30 percent from coal-powered plants, and 50 percent from LNG. This plan also includes the phase out of nuclear energy by 2025.
Taiwan energy transition Infographic
Below is a handy Infographic to give you more information about Taiwan’s energy and electricity supply and consumption. The Infographic also how much electricity is produced from renewable energy sources and how the renewable energy mix looks like.
Taiwan’s energy supply and demand situation
According to the the energy Statistics Handbook of the Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, energy consumption in Taiwan has been growing continuously, while there is an urgent push towards cleaner energy sources.
Energy consumption
The total energy consumption in Taiwan has grown 9% between 2003 and 2023, from 72.46 million kiloliters of oil equivalent in 2003 to 78.71million kiloliters in 2023. 57.2% of energy consumption in 2023 was for industrial uses, 16.7% for transportation, 8.6% for residential, and 7.9% for the services sector. In terms of energy sources, 48.4% came from petroleum products, 33.6% from electricity, 7.5% from natural gas, and 7.4% from coal & coal products.
Energy supply
The supply of energy in Taiwan, R.O.C. stands at 131.59 million kiloliters in 2023, an average annual growth of 0.48% since 2003. Taiwan is highly depended on imported energy with indigenous energy contributing to 3.33% and imported energy to 96.67% of total energy supply. As for energy supply sources, crude oil & petroleum accounted for 43.7% in 2023, coal & coal products for 28.8%, natural gas for 20.2%, nuclear for 3.9%, biomass & waste for 1.3%. Solar, wind, and hydro accounted for less than 1% each.
Electricity consumption
In 2023 electricity consumption was 276,519 GWh, equal to an average annual increase of 1.62% since 2003. The industrial sector was good for a consumption of 55.3% of total consumption, residential for 17.5%, and energy for 6.7%.
Electricity generation
Electricity generation grew from 209,072 GWh in 2003 to 282,287 GWh in 2023, or an average increase of 1.51% per annum. Coal is still the most important source with a share of 42.2%, followed by LNG with a share of 39.5%, and renewables with a share of 9.5%. In 2023, nuclear still stood at 6.3%.
Renewable energy mix
Electricity generation from renewable energy sources stood at 26,817 GWh in 2003. The most important source was solar with a share of 48%, followed by wind with a share of 23.2%, conventional hydro with a share of 14.7%, and biomass & waste with a share of 13.8%. Geothermal had a share of only 0.1%.
Transitioning towards sustainable energy sources
The transition towards sustainable energy sources is not merely a trend, but an urgent necessity driven by the dire consequences of climate change and environmental degradation. Fossil fuels have been the backbone of energy production for decades, but their negative impacts—such as greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution—are now widely recognized. Transitioning to sustainable energy sources like solar, and wind helps mitigate these environmental challenges and promotes a healthier planet for future generations.
Today, Taiwan is investing a lot in wind energy on the West coast, phasing out nuclear energy, and increasing LNG infrastructure to reduce reliance on coal for electricity generation. Both the energy transition and security are crucial and important focus points for Taiwan.
Conclusion
We hope that this guide is useful and shows the energy landscape in Taiwan. If you have any questions, you can always contact us.
Our guide was last updated on 28 October 2024.
Photo credit: Canva, and TPCB
