A headline target for this project is to prompt the government start drafting concrete 2035 renewable energy development target that could lead to coal phase-out. Under this task, TCAN facilitates the multiple events to reshape RE development policy in Taiwan. A notable achievement of this task is the campaign for rooftop solar mandate, which was passed through Renewable Energy Development Act revision. The other is the collaboration with the multi-stakeholders about agrivoltaics policy. The activities under this task are listed in Table 3.
To make aquaculture photovoltaic development can be compatible with ecological integrity and local community, TCAN held a press conference to single out the potential concern of uncontrollable indoor aquaculture photovoltaic projects. TCAN argue that compared to the outdoor aquaculture photovoltaic projects, indoor design changes the landscape dramatically and more capital intensive, hence it might affect the species habitat and livelihood of local fishery community. In the meantime, review mechanism of indoor design is less strict to outdoor design.
Hence, TCAN members held a press conference with Taiwan Wild Bird Federation, to make the following request to the government:
- The local agricultural authority and the Ministry of Economic Affairs should immediately suspend the granting of permission for the use of indoor aquaculture production facilities located in the “zone of concern”.
- Council of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economic Affairs should modify the environmental and social issue review mechanism to include indoor aquaculture photovoltaic projects as soon as possible.
- Council of Agriculture should research and propose the indoor breeding policy plan as soon as possible.
For the rooftop PV development, Bureau of Energy plan to revise Renewable Energy Development Act to legalize the installation obligation of rooftop PV for building. Hence, Bureau of Energy hold public hearing to discuss about this issue. Homemakers United Foundation participate that public hearing as the representative of TCAN, to express our common request :
- There should be a specific target for citizen power plant.
- The application process at rural and indigenous area should be streamlined to accelerate deployment.
- Rooftop of public building should be reserved a specific portion for citizen power plant development.
- Financial support mechanism besides FIT should be introduced to support citizen power plant development.
- Installation obligation of rooftop PV should be based on criteria included the size, function and ensure dwellers’ participation.
Solar energy plays a significant role in Taiwan’s renewable energy development. However, ground-mounted solar farms have been at the center of controversies in recent years, especially those situated
on agricultural land, leading to substantial opposition. In pursuit of solutions for Taiwan’s solar energy development, Taiwan Environment and Planning Association (TE&P) organized an event on September 25th. We invited experts from Japan and Israel who are leading the way in promoting “Agrivoltaics.” These experts shared their insights and challenges related to agriculture and energy policies in their respective countries. The overarching objective was to investigate how agriculture and photovoltaics can be mutually beneficial.
In recent years, disputes have arisen over the potential impact of solar energy on agriculture. Chen Yu-Ping(陳郁屏), the Executive Director of TE&P, highlighted the industry’s growing demand for green energy and the public’s expectation that it aligns with environmental values. However, energy transition is challenging due to a short learning curve. Issues related to the location of solar farms often lead to debates, with some arguing against having them in their neighborhood. TE&P suggests that
regions should discuss and find suitable solutions for their specific contexts.
Similar disputes have emerged worldwide during the promotion of solar energy, often involving spatial competition or the “Not In My Backyard” effect. In response, many countries have started to combine solar with farming in Agrivoltaics models to encourage dual use. However, achieving mutual benefits between photovoltaics and agriculture while preserving farming as a primary focus presents a significant challenge.
Bar Weiss, the CEO of the company Sun’Agri Israel branch, shared insights from Agrivoltaics trials in Israel. Israel, like Taiwan, faces challenges such as limited land and an aging agricultural population. His research team interviewed 170 farmers to understand the key issues affecting farmer
participation in Agrivoltaics. These included concerns about crop yield reduction and willingness to continue farming activities. The information gathered helped persuade the Israeli government to initiate Agrivoltaics pilot programs.
This year, Israel approved 120 Agrivoltaics pilot projects, each covering 1.5 hectares. These projects involve developers, academic teams, and local farmers collaborating. The government provides project purchase rates and research funding to encourage the development of diverse Agrivoltaics models. The goal is to evaluate how photovoltaic facilities can integrate with agriculture and adapt to various conditions to create successful operational models.
“Agrivoltaics should become a crucial agricultural tool,” emphasized Weiss. Agrivoltaics in Israel aim to help agriculture adapt to climate disasters, counter labor migration, an aging population, and the challenges of climate change. Large-scale pilot programs and regulatory adjustments enable Israel to accumulate experience and avoid hasty large-scale investments. The focus is on sustaining agricultural production while avoiding negative ecological impacts from photovoltaic installations.
In Japan, a country facing a similar challenge of balancing agriculture and photovoltaics, researcher Makoto Tajima highlighted a key insight. Given that only 30% of Japan’s land is flat, research shows that combining wheat cultivation with photovoltaic panels can yield 80% of both agricultural and solar energy production, resulting in a 160% increase in overall value. Different crops have varying sunlight saturation points, meaning that appropriate shading doesn’t hinder crop growth.
Japan has been promoting Agrivoltaics since 2013, successfully integrating over 120 crop varieties with solar energy. Farmers have opted for shade-tolerant crops, including mushrooms and short-term leafy vegetables, or have combined photovoltaics with rice cultivation. To ensure the preservation of high-quality agricultural land, the Japanese government regulates that only low-grade land can be converted solely for electricity generation. Most participants are professional farmers.
Makoto also mentioned a community-based Agrivoltaics project in Chiba as an example of a model where energy profits benefit local residents. The project covers 3.2 hectares and generates an annual surplus from electricity sales, reinvested in the community for local development and
agricultural technology. Japanese people actively engage in community energy projects, which follow the principles of community ownership, participation, and sharing.
Drawing from international experiences, Tsai Jia-Jin(蔡佳晉) CEO of INAEnergy, involved in an Agrivoltaics project in Chiayi(嘉義), pointed out the advantages of Israel’s solar panels, which do not require frequent cleaning and have better sunlight conditions than Taiwan. He also noted the higher maintenance costs in Taiwan, exacerbated by land rentals and difficulties in finding farmers for cultivation. Some past operators’ disorganized approaches have led to a negative perception of Agrivoltaics, damaging the agricultural sector’s image. He suggested that regulatory authorities should restrict crop choices and configurations to avoid harming agriculture.
Overall, while drawing from international experiences, Taiwan needs to develop a renewable energy model suitable for its unique circumstances. The development of Agrivoltaics may not offer an immediate solution to the urgent need for renewable energy, but it’s an important option to explore.
The key is to find ways to resolve conflicts and bring vitality to both the agriculture and energy sector.
As for the rooftop solar mandate, it led to some concern from architects and landscape planners. Hence, TCAN organize a workshop to facilitate the dialogue of the experts in the field of architecture and energy transition. During the amendment of the Renewable Energy Development Act under the congress, TCAN also release several joint statements to support the
rooftop solar mandate, which eventually successful passed. It makes Taiwan become the first country in Asia to have nationwide rooftop solar mandate, a historical progress of renewable energy development in Taiwan.