Taiwan may fall short of its target to generate 30 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, its economy minister said on Thursday, as the island’s clean energy share remains well below planned levels and officials scale back ambitions in some sectors.
Renewables accounted for just 15 per cent of Taiwan’s power mix as of February, far lower than the government’s interim goal of 20 per cent by November 2026 and its longer-term 30 per cent target by the end of the decade, according to data presented to parliament.
Speaking at a legislative hearing, economy minister Kung Ming-hsin said the government would take a “pragmatic” approach, prioritising the expansion of installed green power capacity to meet demand from multinational companies participating in the RE100 initiative, rather than focusing solely on the overall share of renewables in the energy mix.
The RE100 initiative is a global programme where companies commit to sourcing 100 per cent of their electricity from renewable energy. It is led by the Climate Group in partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
“The proportion of green energy may not be achievable,” Kung said, citing rising overall electricity demand and the addition of new natural gas-fired units, which are expected to dilute the renewables share even as capacity grows.
Lawmakers from both the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition Kuomintang raised concerns that the 2030 target could be missed, urging the government to revise its benchmarks or improve implementation.
Some legislators noted that surging power demand has made it harder for renewables to keep pace, suggesting the government may need to rethink how it measures progress.
Kung also acknowledged that regulatory changes, including amendments to environmental impact assessment rules, have slowed the rollout of solar projects, further complicating efforts to meet near-term targets.
In a further sign of shifting priorities, the ministry said it would cut its 2030 geothermal power capacity goal to 200 megawatts (MW), down sharply from a previously announced 1.2 gigawatts (GW) target under a 2025 decarbonisation plan approved by the cabinet. This marks a more than 80 per cent cut in planned capacity.
The downgrade drew criticism from industry groups, with the Taiwan Geothermal Resources Development Association saying the move would discourage international investors and undermine confidence in the sector.
Officials from the National Development Council, however, continued to cite the higher 1.2 GW target during the same hearing, highlighting inconsistencies within the government over its clean energy roadmap.
Kung said the earlier geothermal target faced “practical implementation challenges”, adding that the revised figure reflected a more realistic assessment of development constraints.
Taiwan, a major semiconductor manufacturing hub, has faced growing pressure to accelerate its energy transition as global technology firms demand more renewable electricity to meet climate commitments. The government has promoted offshore wind and solar power as key pillars of its strategy, while expanding liquefied natural gas capacity to ensure supply stability.
