Taiwan’s Energy Future: Nuclear or Renewables?

Taiwan It was not possible to pass August referendum About whether the nuclear power plant should restart if it was considered safe for work. While more than 4 million votes for “yes” surpassed more than 1.5 million votes “no”, the number of affirmative votes could not surpass the 25 -percent threshold that have the right to voters, is also required for the referendum. As a result, Taiwan remains on the non -nuclear path that he has followed from the moment the nuclear installation under consideration was closed, Atomic power station of Maanshanin the south of Taiwan on May 17, execution State promise of 2016 Made as a result of 2011 in 2011 Fukushima catastropheField

However, high -tech industries, including Semiconductor productionAI Data processing centers And the operators of the AI ​​infrastructure will continue to feed the demand for electricity. The question remains whether Taiwan can provide reliable, pure power in support of the growth of these industries in the context of the geopolitical pressure of China and Without nuclear energyField

Taiwan's energy landscape remains complicated. Nuclear energyDesigned in retired reactors have been observed since the 1970s Since 2018Taiwan's field import 95 percent of his energy and has a growing dependence on natural gasField but it is also aimed at reducing Carbon emissionsimprove the reliability of the grid and expand it Energy storage Parameters.

“There is no industrial growth without energy … and nuclear is a great option” – Nvidia General manager Jensen Juang He said during Preliminary visit To Taibay August 22. He met with key players in high -tech supply chains, Including the Taiwanese company for the production of semiconductors (TSMC), The world's largest chip foundry creation of advanced chips for smartphonesIN High -performance calculationsand AI applications.

This was not the first time Juang defended nuclear energy. For Computex Taibei in May He said“We need energy from any source: wind, sunny, nuclear. Taiwan should absolutely invest in the nuclear, and should not be stigma to have energy. ”

Nvidia expands in Taiwan, collaborating with Foxconn and the government to build AI training with 10,000 graphic processors and Supercompleting The object in the south, opening a larger office in Taibe and collaborating with Taiwanese companies, such as TSMC Build an ecosystem of infrastructure AI.

President Taiwan Lai Ching-Te promised to honor the result of a referendum, focusing on various sources of energy. He said that Taiwan can consider the issue of advanced nuclear versions, if the technology improves, waste and growth of public support are reduced.

At the end of August, the government approved the draft part legislationIN The main act of AIDesigned to create a supporting environment for the development and use of AI. The project emphasizes the role of the government in promoting research, applications and infrastructure of AI. Meanwhile, the recently shifted cabinet is under pressure from industry and a wider public in order to preserve Energy safetyField

In mid -September, the recently appointed Minister for Economic Affairs Ming-Hsin If He emphasized that Taiwan is the global center of chips and technologies, forming strategies over the next 10-20 years.

Kung emphasized that enterprises need both Stable power source and green energy To fulfill obligations for 100 percent renewable energy from global corporate initiative RE110Field He said that the new office would continue to focus on renewable energy when setting up the deployment speed. The goal is to raise renewable energy sources To 20 percent of Taiwan By the end of 2026, a complex target goal, which is crucial for maintaining the competitiveness of Taiwan in global supply chains. He appreciated renewable energy will take into account About 15 percent from Electricity production By the end of 2025 11.9 percent in 2024Field

A Wind turbine And that Solar energy The system is visible in the Taipower exhibition in Pingtung, in the south of Taiwan on April 29, 2025.I-HWA CHENG/AFP/Getty Images

For solar energy, Kung promised to strengthen existing projects, resolve the conflicts of land use with fish farms in Solar initiativesAnd replace older Sunny panels With new ones that produce twice as much energy. Offshore wind Construction will be accelerated, and a trial program for swimming Wind turbines will resume. Taiwan will also actively develop other Green energy Sources such as geothermal And hydrogenField

As for the nuclear, Kung confirmed the path of Taiwan, but left to open the possibility of adopting advanced technologies, such as Small modular reactorsThe guidelines for evaluating potential reboots of existing plants will be released by the end of October. At the first step, the Taiwan Energy Company (Taipower) will be held, conducting estimates of all three stopped nuclear stations, from The initial results are next yearThe Manshanan field, which began commercial operations in 1984, is considered the most likely to pass the self -assessment of safety, which will be focused on the ability to maintain aging equipment and update earthquake Sustainability.

In the report published on September 26, in Taiwan, the demand for electricity for electricity will project grow by 1.7 percent per year From 2025 to 2034. Predictable factors in expansion to Taiwan semiconductor industryInvestments in the development of AI and the expected energy savings.

In order to satisfy the growing demand for electricity, the government currently plans to increase the production of natural gas, at the same time by visiting large nuclear, coal and oil plants. Pure additions 12.2 Gigavatt in gas capacity is expected by 2034Field

Semiconductor industry

But high -tech industries express concern. In early September, in half -end Taiwan, Charles LeeThe managing director of the Topco Group, a major supplier of semiconductors, said IEEE Spectrum That manufacturers are worried about the stability of the grid, since the growth of AI and the semiconductor is accelerating. “Highly polluting coal plants are no longer an option, so we will rely on liquefied natural gas And less stable renewable energy sources. If nuclear plants could be rebooted, I would personally greet it, ”Lee says.

Meanwhile, the Director of Memory Production, who acted subject to anonymity, because his company is not authorized to speak with the media, said IEEE Spectrum This Taiwan economy is still based on production. “We are concerned about the low efficiency of green energy. We also noticed a tendency abroad, and the countries resumed the construction of nuclear power plants, ”he says.

IN Television debate On the eve of the August referendum, Tzu-Hsien Tung, Chairman of Pegatron Corporation, announced support for the restart of the nuclear power plantsHe warned the field that if Taiwan continues to rely on the catch, local firms may encounter steep taxes on carbon abroad, undermining their global competitiveness.

Participants inspect the model of artificial intelligence server at the stand. Samples of the AI ​​server are displayed at the Zhen Ding Tech Group stand during an exhibition in Taiwan in Taibe in Taibe on September 10, 2025.I-HWA CHENG/AFP/Getty Images

Since the Taiwanese society discussed whether the nuclear power plants were needed to restore, some Taiwanese energy experts, including JSL-Luin Lin, Deputy Executive Director of the Office for Reducing Energy and Carbon Taiwanyan and a professor of political science at the National Taiwanese University, called for new approaches to the energy stability of Taiwan against the backdrop of the ongoing Chinese threats, repeating the ideas represented by non -governmental organizations and thoughts such as American climate and security centerThis is a Pure energy The transition can strengthen National SecurityField

IN Society of Environmental Environment and Political Research Conference c Japan On September 21, Lane emphasized that renewable energy is central to both energy and national security. He emphasized: “The stability of energy can be strengthened only with the help of decentralized, local renewable energy sources in combination with Micro -grip and storage of energy ”and warned that large, centralized power plants are more simple goals for attack.

Commenting on possible nuclear versions of Taiwan, YusenProfessor c University Tokhoku And the chairman of the session at the conference warned that SMR remains immature and expensive, and investments in them can slow down the development of renewable energy. Development.

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