Taiwan opens doors to global solar market

New legislation that paves the way for renewable energy adoption in Taiwan is poised to create a booming domestic market for solar.

But the European Chamber of Commerce Taipei said today that Taiwan will likely need the expertise of other countries, especially Germany, to respond to this demand.

"Certainly this [legislation] will help, but more is needed in the form of tariff reductions, subsidies and searching for expertise and best practices from other countries," the ECCT said, according to The China Post.

In June, lawmakers authorized state-run Taiwan Power to buy renewable energy from private investors, The China Post said. The legislature in Taiwan also established its first policies to encourage renewable energy, including incentives to consumers, and policies to spur the development of new energy technologies.

Demand in Europe has driven the solar industry in Taiwan recently, according to data from the Taiwan External Trade Development Council. European customers were largely responsible for the top six solar producers in Taiwan selling $1.1 billion in cells in the first half of 2008, an increase of nearly 70 percent over the same period in 2007 (see Taiwan solar makers grow sales 70 percent). 

The lack of regulatory framework and incentives in Taiwan has also pushed some solar companies to focus on mainland China and Japan as vital markets (see Taiwanese solar maker eyes Chinese market).

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