Taiwan's renewables push hit by big tech's appetite for power

'Not in my backyard' sentiment and struggle to ditch nuclear make 20% goal hard

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen makes speech at the opening ceremony of 2020 Energy Taiwan. (Photo courtesy of Energy Taiwan)

RIK GLAUERT, Contributing writer

December 18, 2020 16:54 JST

TAIPEI -- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's push to have the island generate 20% of its electricity from renewables by 2025 is running into difficulties.

Wind, solar and hydro generation accounted for just 5.2% of the island's power production in the first three quarters of 2020, underscoring the difficult task of reaching the target announced by Tsai soon after taking office in 2016.