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Why the US Won’t Be Able to Help Build Taiwan’s Nuclear Future
When the 40-year operating license of Taiwan’s last remaining commercial nuclear reactor expired on May 17, the country realized its nuclear phase-out policy after decades of politicized debates. If anything, though, the imminent decommissioning of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant’s second reactor has only fueled another round of heated discussions on the potential role of nuclear power in Taiwan’s energy future. On May 13, the Legislative Yuan – Taiwan’s national legislature, where opposition parties currently hold a majority – passed amendments to the Nuclear Reactor Facilities Regulation Act, allowing nuclear power plant operators to apply for a 20-year license renewal beyond the original 40-year cap and easing restrictions on their restarts. In the meantime, it also passed a proposal from the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) for a referendum on restarting the Maanshan plant, which is now set to take place in August. Such renewed interest in nuclear energy is a […]
Taiwan’s Nuclear-Free Moment: A Milestone in the Energy Transition
At approximately 10 p.m. on May 17th, the last reactor at Taiwan’s Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant (NPP3) was disconnected from the grid. With that single, silent act, Taiwan effectively turned the page on nuclear energy—realizing the long-aspired vision of a “nuclear-free homeland,” a goal enshrined in both its Basic Environment Act and Climate Change Response Act. This was not merely the decommissioning of a power plant—it was a defining moment in a decades-long struggle over the future of Taiwan’s energy system, a choice between divergent paths of progress. Since the energy transition policy was initiated in the first quarter of 2016, nuclear power’s share of electricity generation has plummeted from 17% to just 3%. Coal, long the dominant source, has seen its share fall from 47% to 35%. Meanwhile, renewable energy—largely wind and solar—has grown nearly tenfold, from 1.3% to 12%, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) now supplies 46% of […]
Taiwan’s Final Step Toward a Nuclear-Free Homeland Faces New Political Hurdles
On May 17th, Taiwan is set to shut down the last operating reactor at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant (NPP 3), effectively realizing its long-held goal of becoming a “nuclear-free homeland.” This milestone marks the culmination of a policy first initiated after the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)—an anti-nuclear political force—won the presidential election in 2016 and launched an ambitious energy transition plan. The policy aimed to phase out all nuclear power plants by 2025, replacing them with renewable energy sources, while gradually reducing coal-fired power in favor of natural gas. From its inception, the energy transition has been politically contentious. Pro-nuclear parties and advocacy groups initiated two national referendums in 2018 and 2021. The 2018 vote succeeded in repealing a symbolic clause in the Electricity Act referencing a “nuclear-free homeland,” but this had no substantive effect on policy. The 2021 referendum, which sought to revive the mothballed Lungmen Nuclear Power […]
Germany’s Climate And Energy Policy After The Election – Policy Making in the Backdrop of Security and Economic Challenges
After the election two weeks ago, Friedrich Merz, a conservative and former corporate lawyer for Blackrock, is likely to become the next chancellor of Germany. The campaign was dominated by the economy and migration, while the climate crisis played an insignificant role. According to a recent poll, Germans consider the economic situation and migration as most pressing issues, with 43 % and 42 % ranking them as top concerns, respectively. Germany has long been a key advocate for climate action. But according to Simon Franzmann, Professor for Democratic Studies in Göttingen, parties emphasize growth and the promise of wealth as key topics, while climate targets move back on the political agenda. Will Germany still be able to decarbonize its economy in this political setting? And will it still lead on climate policy after turning against its incumbent center-left coalition? Merz Wins, The Center Loses, Right And Left-Wing Parties Gain Votes […]
（Taiwan Insight）Trump on Earth? Implications for Taiwan’s Climate and Energy Policy
With its threats to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and its “energy dominance” agenda, the return of the Trump administration is set to disrupt the global energy landscape. This marks a sharp contrast to the climate legacy of the Biden administration, characterised by historic investments, governance innovation, and renewed international leadership. The Biden administration has implemented a comprehensive approach to address climate change through legislation, policy coordination, and international leadership. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, allocates $370 billion in federal incentives, the largest climate-focused investment globally. The IRA mandates that 40% of the funds benefit disadvantaged communities and enforces strict environmental standards for hydrogen projects. To ensure effective implementation, the Biden administration established the National Climate Task Force, adopting a whole-of-government approach to domestic climate policy coordination. Therefore, climate change is listed as a key pillar of the National Security Strategy and Trade Policy Agenda. The Department […]
（Taipei Times）More new buildings need solar panels, groups say
By Chen Chia-yi and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer Citizen of the Earth, Taiwan yesterday urged the government to require the installation of solar panels on new buildings that have a surface area of 300m2 or more to bolster the nation’s use of renewable energy. The organization made the statement at a joint news conference in Taipei with other environmental groups to announce the launch of a petition in support of proposed regulatory changes. The Ministry of the Interior is drafting an amendment to the Renewable Energy Development Act (再生能源發展條例) to require photovoltaic panels to be installed on all new or refurbished structures with a surface area equal to or greater than 1,000m2. Citizen of the Earth, Taiwan member Cheng Tai-chin (鄭泰鈞) said the measures would not go far enough, while the foundation’s plan would put solar panels on 80 percent of new roof space. The panels […]
（Taiwan Insight） Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Candidates: How Do They Fare On The Climate?
When it comes to the climate, all three candidates in Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election have emphasised the importance of taking action and committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The main driver behind this mainstreaming of climate policy is the fact that supply chain requirements have made the country’s export competitiveness highly connected to climate performance. Therefore, we must scrutinise the comprehensiveness of each candidate’s policy proposals, rather than solely relying on whether they are climate denialists, to distinguish their positions. Taiwan Climate Action Network (TCAN), a collaborative advocacy platform organised by five NGOs, has thus produced a climate commitment tracker to compare their positions on seven key climate-related policies: (1) 2030 emissions reduction target, (2) carbon pricing strategies, (3) 2030 power mix, (4) renewable energy development plan, (5) industrial decarbonisation, (6) public participation, and (7) just transition. In this article, we will focus specifically on their 2030 pledges, carbon pricing strategies, and just […]