Taiwan will continue promoting renewable energy to maintain a clean environment while developing its economy, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) officials said yesterday.
The officials of the MOEA's Bureau of Energy made the remarks on the first anniversary of the Kyoto protocol, under which the signatories are committed to meeting greenhouse gas emissions targets by 2012.
Although Taiwan is not a signatory to the agreement, the country convened last June a national energy conference to map out measures to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
During the last year, the bureau has promoted renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind, geothermal, solar and biomass power, and has set up technical groups to offer consulting services in energy efficiency to industrial and trade organizations, as well as to government agencies, the officials said.
In addition, the bureau has set energy-reduction targets and improvement projects for big energy users, and has promoted energy efficiency among the public, according to officials.
These efforts have helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 500,000 tonnes in Taiwan so far, according to the officials.
Among the various forms of renewable energy, electricity generation by wind power has helped reduce carbon dioxide emission by 350,000 tonnes, and at least 350,000 households are using solar-powered water heaters, the officials said.
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