Electricity in Republic of China (Taiwan) in 2023

As of 2023, the majority of Taiwan's electricity comes from fossil fuels, with a staggering 83% share in the total energy mix. Further breaking down this category, coal is the dominant source making up more than 42% of these sources, closely followed by gas at almost 40%, with a minimal contribution from oil at a little over 1%. Despite the heavy reliance on fossil fuels, Taiwan has made strides towards cleaner energy solutions. Low-carbon energy contributes almost 17% to the total electricity production. Nuclear power leads this category with more than 6% share, whilst solar and wind energy contribute just under 5% and a little over 2% respectively. Hydropower adds a fraction under 2.5% to this cleaner energy portfolio.

Suggestions

Looking at the success of other countries, Taiwan can gain insights on how to increase its low-carbon electricity generation. Nuclear power seems to be a promising clean energy source based on the case of France and Slovakia, generating 66% and 61% of their electricity respectively. Moreover, adopting wind power like Denmark, which generates nearly 60% of its electricity from wind, could also be a viable option as Taiwan's geography may allow for significant wind energy generation. Solar power has substantial potential too, as seen in countries like Greece and Australia that generate around 19% and 18% of their electricity respectively from this energy source. Thus, adopting a combination of nuclear, wind and solar could help Taiwan significantly lift its share of low-carbon electricity production.

History

Taiwan's history with low-carbon electricity reveals a focus on nuclear power since the early 1980s. Starting with a modest generation of 3 TWh in 1982, nuclear energy witnessed a steady growth in the subsequent years, peaking to around 6 TWh in the late 1980s. However, from 2001 to 2003, nuclear power saw a slight decline before it rebounded. A significant drop was observed in 2015, continuing to 2017, followed by an uptick in 2018 and 2019. Another dip was recorded in 2021 and 2022, indicating a turbulent trajectory. While nuclear power has seen some fluctuations, solar and wind power made considerable progress in 2022 and 2023. Hydro power also chipped in with substantial growth in 1992 and 2011. Still, the continuous fluctuations in nuclear power generation suggest that Taiwan needs to strengthen its commitment and efforts towards steady, long-term development of low-carbon electricity sources.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources