
Perspectives with Wenchi Yu Ep. 30 Taiwan's Energy Crossroads: Between Politics and Net-Zero Goal
Host Wenchi Yu speaks with Bart Linssen, an onshore wind expert who has spent over two decades in Taiwan, about how the island's energy system is struggling to move from cheap coal and nuclear to renewables while keeping prices and supply stable. As Taiwan and the US sign a landmark trade and investment deal centered on semiconductors, some of Taiwan’s most sensitive yet least understood strategic questions remain: how the island can keep the lights on, stay competitive in the global supply chain, and still reach net zero emissions.
Bart explains Taiwan’s current mix—dominated by coal and LNG with nuclear recently shut down and renewables stuck at about 10 percent—its complex market design around Tai Power (Taiwan Power Company, 台電), feed‑in tariffs, and corporate Power Purchase Agreements driven by supply‑chain demands like RE100 and Europe’s carbon border tax, and the intensely political battles that routinely derail onshore wind and solar projects at the local level. He also discusses the growing reliance on imported LNG, debates over reviving nuclear (including small modular reactors), and why clearer zoning, more consistent policy, and stronger political will are essential if Taiwan is to reach its 2050 net‑zero goal and remain competitive.
Perspectives with Wenchi Yu
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