The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday said it is relaxing industrial policy, as it seeks to resolve disputes with the EU over offshore wind energy projects before the settlement period expires at the end of this month.
The ministry’s remarks came after Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) yesterday met with developers of offshore wind energy zones 3-1 and 3-2 to discuss obstacles that might hinder them from completing the installations of wind power turbines and connecting them to grids by 2030 at the latest.
Taiwan’s industrial policy was the top issue brought up by offshore wind energy developers, followed by availability of bank loans from government-controlled lenders, the ministry said.
Photo courtesy of Skyborn Renewable Taiwan Co via CNA
“The ministry is negotiating with the EU under the WTO framework,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The consultation had a positive atmosphere and is moving toward a settlement,” it added.
The government is to loosen its industrial policy, the ministry said.
That means offshore wind farm developers might not be penalized if any force majeure factors lead to the postponement in wind farm constructions, such as delays in local supplies of components and maritime engineering services — the unavailability of geotechnics drilling vessels, for example — an official said.
Offshore wind energy developers can submit applications to the ministry for a review, under the condition that those wind turbines must be erected as scheduled while safeguarding the public’s interests, the ministry said.
The EU on July 26 requested dispute settlement consultations at the WTO on concerns over local content criteria for offshore wind energy projects.
Taiwan’s local content eligibility and award criteria in energy capacity allocation auctions for offshore wind farms are inconsistent with its WTO commitment to not discriminate against imported goods and services, the EU said.
The EU said at the time that it can request the WTO to set up a panel to rule on this matter if the two parties fail to reach a satisfactory solution within 60 days, or by Friday.
The ministry said that offshore wind energy developers are hoping to get the government’s support in a symbolic way, so they are aiming to obtain bank loans from government-controlled lenders.
The ministry said that to reach that goal, it would arrange meetings between officials from the National Development Council, the Financial Supervisory Commission, the Ministry of Finance and offshore wind energy developers this month to gain a holistic picture of the industry before granting loans.
That is an imminent task to significantly boost green energy capacity by 2030, it said.
Demand from local firms are growing rapidly given mounting pressure to meet customers’ requirements of adopting a certain degree of green energy, the ministry added.
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