The impacts of energy trends and policies on Taiwan's power generation systems

Countries use greater quantities of electrical power as they develop economically.It is crucial to consider policies for Taiwan to realize available, economic, reliable and sustainable electricity systems in the future. The developments of global energy supply trends and the energy situations in various major economies, such as their energy self- sufficiency, electricity fuel mix and electricity carbon emission factors for electricity generation, are affecting the energy policy debate in Taiwan in recent years. Taiwan's previous energy policies were implemented in response to energy security and global warming with an intention to expand the nuclear power usage. However, following on from the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, Taiwan is now in the throes of reconstructing its new power policy. Taiwan's government has decided to reduce nuclear capacity progressively and the construction of new nuclear power plant has been frozen. Taiwan's renewable energy deployment targets have been escalated and more natural gas power plants will be used. However, the costs for alternative power options are lack of effective communication with the public. Due to strong protests from anti-nuclear activists, there were no solid conclusions formed in the National Energy Conference in January 2015 and a responsible energy policy was failed to be reached. It is obvious that the electricity reserve rates in Taiwan will be too low to avoid the risks of power rationing or power disruptions in the near future and if Taiwan's energy dilemma can't be solved.