The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday said total capacity for solar power expected to be generated from the private sector this year would exceed its earlier target of 64 megawatts (MW).
As of last Friday, the ministry’s energy bureau had received 981 applications from companies expressing interest in setting up solar power equipment.
EQUIPMENT
Upon approval, the companies will purchase the equipment with their own budget, and then will be able to start selling solar power to the state-run Taiwan Power Co (台電) based on “feed-in tariffs” set by the government.
These applications — if they pass the ministry’s first-stage screening — will be reviewed by Taipower, which will grant contracts to successful companies.
These firms will be guaranteed of receiving fixed “feed-in tariffs” for power generated over the next 20 years. In this way, they will be able to recoup their installation investment and eventually make money.
The ministry has approved 452 applications so far, and their combined capacity could churn out 69MW of electricity.
RENEWED PROCESS
The ministry’s statement came after Solar Power Generation System Association (太陽能光電發電系統公會) earlier this month accused the government of not doing its part to encourage the private sector to adopt solar power.
The association said private firms had to pass a complicated review process with Taipower that consisted of five stages, and successful candidates would then have a 250-page contract waiting for them to fill out.
SHORTER CONTRACT
The ministry has responded by saying that there are only 10-plus pages to the contract and Taipower is cutting its review process to fewer than 25 days to simplify the application process.
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