Public Support Drops for Taiwan's Renewable Energy Policy

The 2025 International Energy Expo was one of the smallest in recent years, with a decline in both exhibitors and attendees. The solar panel section alone had been reduced by 200 booths from 2024, with many developers choosing not to participate or significantly reducing their exhibition space. 

Things did not look much better for offshore wind industry projects, with only four developers hosting exhibits  - Orsted, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, SRE, and SkyBorn Renewables.  Absent were several key enterprises that have exited the Taiwanese market in recent years - EDF, Taiya Wind Power, and Corio Generation. 

No representatives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs attended the expo for the second consecutive year, with only Deputy Minister Lai Chien-hsin attending the opening. In contrast, high-profile government attendees in previous years signaled strong support for renewable energy development.​

Both solar and wind industry insiders noted that the expo was less of a priority than in past years, with many firms' main goal simply being to maintain exposure for future opportunities.​

The reduced scale of the expo signals a broader decline in Taiwan's renewable energy sector, with international challenges, increased local public scrutiny, and a lack of clear domestic guidance from the Taiwanese government all underscoring the industry's concerns and uncertain future.

The Taiwanese renewable energy market is not alone in its challenges. Across the Pacific, U.S. President Trump has long been vocal that he believes climate change is a "hoax." Upon taking office for his second term, he signed a memorandum halting new offshore wind leasing and permitting processes on federal waters.

Several approved projects, like Revolution Wind, faced suspension orders by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, citing "national security," causing severe financial losses for developers and shaking market confidence.

The U.S. federal government subsequently canceled nearly $679 million in funding for ports and wind-related infrastructure and imposed a roughly 50% tariff on wind turbine components, citing high costs and insufficient reliability as factors against renewable energy subsidies.

These policy changes have impacted supply chains for wind power, and the ensuing uncertainty has stalled many projects from European developers investing in the US.

Amidst these global challenges, the Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance (TRENA)Secretary-General Kao Ju-ping has urged Taiwan's government to refute misinformation and prevent local misperceptions of renewable energy. 

Kao highlighted that such misperceptions of Taiwan's solar power as a "public enemy" and inflated development costs have shaken local and foreign investor confidence, diverting investments to Japan and the Philippines.​​

She noted that while green power supply has seen significant growth, with installed capacity rising from 1.9 GW to 18.2 GW over nine years, the numbers still fall short of electricity demands for industry,  which could deter RE100 and net-zero carbon companies from setting up factories in Taiwan.

Solar installation capacity has also declined for two consecutive years, which Kao noted makes it harder for small and medium-sized enterprises to access green electricity, complicating Taiwan's official goal of reaching 31 GW of renewable energy by 2030. 

To counter these perceptions and boost industry confidence, Kao suggested establishing a "Taiwan Renewable Energy Day" and inviting sustainable development awardees for discussions. She also urged the government to enhance local communication efforts and carefully choose areas for planned energy infrastructure development to foster societal consensus.

"Green energy is not a choice; it's Taiwan's only path to net zero," she asserted.

Despite significant advocacy, the renewable energy industry continues to face public criticism in Taiwan over environmental impacts, with several solar energy projects embroiled in controversies that highlight inadequate local engagement and misinformation mentioned by Kao that disrupts renewable energy policies. 

In early 2025, a solar project in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung raised concerns over ecological and agricultural impacts due to its proximity to slopes and settlements. Local groups accused the solar farm of environmental damage, inadequate drainage, and potential flooding. Despite compliance with regulations, the community demanded a halt to construction and a review of siting principles, underscoring the sensitive nature of land use conflicts.

Later in the year, Typhoon Danas caused extensive damage to coastal solar installations, including the floating solar equipment near the southwestern city of Chiayi, raising fears of heavy metal pollution from broken panels. Despite clarifications from Taiwan's Ministry of Environment, public concerns about solar power's environmental impact have persisted.

Recently, the floating solar project near the southwestern Wushantou Reservoir became a national issue amidst reports of unscrupulous operators polluting water sources and affecting reservoir capacity. Despite multiple clarifications from both the governmental Water Resources Agency and the state-owned Taipower that no pollutants were detected.

The Ministry of Environment's plan to require full environmental impact assessments for all floating solar projects by the end of the year has also sparked backlash from the industry, which argues that such a move will bring water-based solar development to a standstill.

In addition to solar setbacks, onshore wind projects have faced public resistance, with residents complaining of low-frequency noise affecting daily life. Protests against onshore wind installations near cities like Yilan, Taitung, and Pingtung echo past "anti-wind turbine" movements in the country. 

Disputes over the Yilan wind farm stemmed from proximity concerns, with turbines planned within hundreds of meters of homes. Residents protested inadequate disclosure of the scope of construction and complained about the size, noise, and electromagnetic interference of the turbines. The local government responded by postponing the approval processes.

In Taitung, the planned wind farm faced pushback from theAmis and Puyuma indigenous communities, as the chosen spots were located in their traditional lands. ​Community members allege that developers bypassed required consultations under the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law, raising ecological impact concerns on bird migration routes and coastal preservation areas. Community and environmental groups have repeatedly demanded project reassessment.

The wind project in Pingtung near Kenting National Park saw local groups oppose high turbine installations in significant bird habitats due to ecological concerns. Residents also expressed worry about landscape disruption and noise pollution, calling for a comprehensive and transparent environmental assessment before going forward with the project. 

The Lai administration has remained relatively silent on Taiwan's numerous renewable energy controversies.

In private interviews, solar developers revealed a perception of green energy as a "problem," noting that issues frequently arise in the traditionally staunch pro-Democratic Progressive Party stronghold of Tainan. This attitude is seen as a consequence of former President Tsai's initiatives, leaving current government officials reluctant to engage and potentially negating past efforts. Developers stress that not all solar operators are irresponsible, and that blanket energy sector accountability is unfair amid rising environmental concerns.

However, the path forward requires innovative engagement across government, industry, and the public to facilitate constructive dialogue. The renewable energy sector's revamp depends on collaborative, informed approaches to rebuild trust and maintain Taiwan's commitment to net-zero transitions. （Related： Taiwanese Lawmakers Push Amendments to Protect Medical Workers ｜ Latest ）