From October 2025 through September 2026, fossil fuels supplied about 85% of electricity consumed in the Republic of China (Taiwan), while low-carbon sources provided only about 15%. Gas accounted for just over half of electricity, coal for almost a third, and oil for around 1%. Within the clean electricity share, solar contributed about 6%, wind nearly 5%, hydropower roughly 3%, and other unspecified low-carbon sources around 1%. This leaves Taiwan heavily dependent on fossil electricity, highlighting the importance of expanding clean generation to reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Republic of China (Taiwan)?

Electricity consumption per person is growing, but only slightly. The latest 2026 figure reached about 12,600 kWh per person, narrowly exceeding the previous record of about 12,500 kWh in 2025—an increase of roughly 0.5%. Low-carbon electricity generation, however, remains well below its historical peak: at about 1,870 kWh per person, it is around 510 kWh, or 21%, below the 2013 record. The small increase in overall electricity consumption is welcome, but the clean electricity shortfall is concerning. Taiwan needs stronger low-carbon growth to support electrification, its technology industries, and rising electricity demand from AI.

Suggestions

Taiwan can increase low-carbon electricity generation by pursuing nuclear, solar, and wind together. South Korea, a particularly relevant regional industrial economy, generates about 26% of its electricity from nuclear power, while France achieves roughly two-thirds—demonstrating nuclear power’s potential to supply substantial amounts of clean electricity. Taiwan should consider restoring nuclear generation and building additional nuclear capacity alongside accelerated solar deployment. For solar, the US state of California generates about 30% of its electricity from the sun, while the island region of Cyprus reaches about 24%, offering useful examples for expanding rooftop and other suitable solar installations. For wind, the United Kingdom generates about 30% of its electricity from wind, providing a relevant maritime example. Stronger grids and storage would help Taiwan integrate growing solar and wind output alongside nuclear generation.

History

Taiwan’s low-carbon electricity history shows substantial early nuclear growth followed by deeply disappointing losses. The listed nuclear increases during the 1980s totalled 25 TWh, followed in 1990 by another 4.9 TWh of nuclear growth and 3.3 TWh from hydropower. A 3 TWh nuclear decline in 2001 was more than reversed by a 4.1 TWh increase in 2002. Much larger setbacks followed in 2015–2017, when annual nuclear declines totalled almost 20 TWh; gains of nearly 10 TWh across 2018–2019 recovered only part of that loss. The listed nuclear declines in 2021–2025 then totalled roughly 28 TWh, including an especially severe 8.9 TWh fall in 2025. Wind’s encouraging 4.3 TWh increase in 2024 did not offset even that year’s nuclear decline. Losing such large volumes of low-carbon electricity is a serious setback: Taiwan should reverse this trajectory by rebuilding nuclear output while accelerating solar and wind growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Oct 2025 – Sep 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.