Taiwan Revises Wind Power Bidding Rules To Ease EU Trade Dispute

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan is revising its offshore wind bidding rules in a move that could reduce tensions with the European Union over local supplier requirements. The EU has challenged Taiwan’s 60% local materials rule at the WTO, saying it violates non-discrimination standards and makes projects more costly. Draft rules would shift to a points-based system, with locality as just one factor.

Transcript

00:00Taiwan is pushing ahead with its wind power goals, announcing at a Taipei press event

00:04new rules that could allow foreign firms to play a bigger role.

00:09The change coming amid a new draft of the entire bidding process to supply wind power.

00:14Rules requiring 60 percent of wind power components to be supplied locally have been controversial

00:19and even triggered a dispute between Taiwan and the European Union in the WTO.

00:23The EU says the requirement violated WTO non-discrimination rules and would make wind

00:28power in Taiwan more difficult and costly to build.

00:32The new bidding process uses a points-based system for suppliers that includes several criteria,

00:37locality being only one of them.

00:39We currently have about 10 to 15 minutes.

00:44This part is basically a part of the market market market, and a part of the market market.

00:52Wind is critical to Taiwan's renewable energy plans, and the country aims to reach net-zero

00:56emissions by 2050.

00:58With rising energy demand from chip makers and AI, the country's energy needs are growing.

01:03But it still relies on burning fossil fuels for about 80 percent of its electricity.

01:08With no nuclear power, the country is relying on renewables to hit its targets.

01:13So the question now is, will this change allow Taiwan to build offshore wind fast and cheap

01:17enough to stay competitive while meeting its climate goals?

01:21Justin Wu and Chris Gorin in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended