Government to raise percentage of renewable energy

The government has drafted a plan to increase renewable energy generation capacity to 10 percent of Taiwan's total power generation capacity and create an annual output value of NT$159 billion (US$4.9 billion) by 2010, a government official said yesterday.

Minister without Portfolio Lin Feng-ching (林逢慶) made the remarks while speaking on the nation's strategy for renewable energy technology development at the 2007 Strategic Review Board (SRB) meeting, which opened on Monday under the auspices of the Cabinet's Science and Technology Advisory Group.

In line with global energy development trends, the government will seek to integrate all resources to systematically develop renewable energy technologies with a view to stepping up the nation's industrial efficiency, Lin said.

Tung Chien-hsiang (童遷祥), deputy director of the Mechanical Industry Research Laboratories under the Industry Technology Research Institute (工研院), emphasized Taiwan's advantageous conditions in wind power technology research and development, saying that Taiwan boasts advanced technologies and a very strong competitive edge in mechanical and electronic parts and components manufacturing.

Noting that Taiwan enjoys abundant wind resources, Tung said that in addition to at least 1,600MW in inland wind power generation potential, the country's maritime wind power generation is estimated at roughly 3,200MW, for a total of 4,800MW, which he said will bring NT$200 billion in trade opportunities for investors.