Taiwan’s vice premier says the country’s push towards renewable energy has been a success. Shen Jong-chin’s speech to a renewable energy forum on Monday comes as Taiwan moves to wean itself off nuclear energy and coal.
Shen cites figures from August 22 which showed that solar plants produced a record peak power of 5.5 gigawatts — about twice as much as nuclear that day, and around 15% of Taiwan’s total.
Another government official says renewable power continued to reach record levels in the following days.
In addition to solar energy, Taiwan also has the capacity to generate some 5 gigawatts in hydroelectric power and about 1 from wind. Although the island was crippled by severe drought last year, this year heavy rains mean there is plenty of water to turn turbines and generate energy.