Taiwan President initiates nuclear power restart procedures

President Lai Ching-te has announced that the Taiwan Power Company has initiated procedures to restart nuclear power following the passage of relevant legislation by the Legislative Yuan. Lai emphasized that the decision to restart nuclear plants will ultimately be left to professional experts, provided that three conditions are met: safety is ensured, nuclear waste management is resolved, and there is social consensus. He noted that while the government aims to avoid ideology-driven energy exclusion, it must also prioritize environmental sustainability.

Regarding renewable energy, Lai stated that the current share of renewable energy in the power mix is approximately 13%, with a goal to increase this to 30% or higher by 2035. He asserted that Taiwan's power supply will remain stable through 2035, even when accounting for the high electricity demands of future high-performance computing and AI data centers.

However, reports indicate that energy targets have shifted multiple times. Previous goals for a 30% renewable energy share by 2030 have been adjusted, with the current target for 30% now set for 2035. Critics have also noted a shift in how progress is measured, moving from total power generation share to installed capacity, a change that some argue may mask low actual output due to the intermittent nature of renewable sources.