Jian Hua, Associate Professor, Department of Marine Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University
The Tōhoku earthquake and the following nuclear power plant crisis in Japan in 2011 had led to the rethinking of energy policy around the world. Japan’s Government has modified its energy baseline. The debate on the possibility of phasing-out nuclear power plant completely has received prevalent attention in Japanese society. German has also facilitated its process toward a zero-nuclear society by proposing an energy transition program which aims to increase the percentage of the renewable energy in total energy consumption from 6.4% to 20% in the near future, and 80% by 2050.
In Taiwan, the social movement that is against the completion of the fourth nuclear power plant has generated a new momentum to push a new chapter of the environmental movement. The policy debates on abolishing nuclear power policy also create tensions nuclear-pro and -against groups. Although both groups have different arguments on the energy future, they both have a consensus that the energy efficiency in Taiwan should be improved in order to lead the society to a better energy management. This article argues that the improvement of energy efficiency is the critical task for Taiwan’s economic transition.
In the past century, human society has made various achievements through the innovation in energy. However, environmental deterioration resulting from the energy overconsumption has forced people to modify their energy policy. For example, Taiwan has proposed a "New Energy Policy" which commits to the development of renewable energy and will continue pursuing new energy resources. Meanwhile, Taiwan is also committed to reducing its dependence on petrochemical and steel industries and cutting its carbon emission. The new regulation on energy-saving buildings is designated to reduce the consumption of electricity in buildings.
Although the government has made different efforts to save energy, the energy efficiency did not gain significant improvement for two reasons. First, people in Taiwan do not realize the emergency of energy transition in Taiwan; therefore, it is very difficult to change the energy consumption behaviors of the public. Second, the best and easiest way to promote energy saving and efficiency is to raise the energy price. Taiwanese Government has subsidized the energy consumption in the past decades. The energy price in Taiwan is unreasonably lower than that of the international market. Therefore, raising the energy price is the first step to energy transition in Taiwan.
The consumers of energy, individuals or entrepreneurs should realize the true costs of energy inefficiency and overconsumption, which then would help to consider and accept the policy change proposed by government and environmental activists. To guarantee the effects of the energy policy transition, Taiwanese government should attune its energy price and its policy on carbon emission, and leave time and room for public understanding and adjustment to reduce the unintended policy impact on Taiwan’s economy.
Energy is the key to the success of economy. Taiwan is no exception. However, Taiwan has addicted to cheap and unsustainable energy during the era of Taiwan’s economic miracle from 1960s to 90s. Taiwan is now considered a developed country. We consume more and more resources and are facing the challenge of over the limits of energy consumption. We know that relying on petrochemical or nuclear power energy poses great risks on society and our environment. Therefore, we should improve polices to promote energy efficiency for sustainable development in Taiwan.
