To Ensure Energy Supply, the Top Priority Is to Raise Energy Efficiency

  To Ensure Energy Supply, the Top Priority Is to Raise Energy Efficiency

China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

April 10, 2017

 Translation of an Except

The DPP government has been fighting to push for a nuclear-free homeland and a transformational energy policy, leading to endless political rumblings. However, generally speaking, citizens do not care; they just hope to ensure that there are no power blackouts, no power rationing, and no hikes in electricity rates. As long as the DPP government can achieve this, the public will have no preconceived views on whether or not we phase out nuclear power. No power blackouts, no power rationing, and no hikes in electricity rates are a formidable challenge for the "nuclear-free government."

The situation is not optimistic. The 2016 energy statistics recently released by the Bureau of Energy Resources indicate that the new government’s preparation and grasp of energy transformation are not adequate. Security in power supply has been hovering over the red line, and the expectations for renewable energy sources have been "wishful thinking"; very possibly they could not pass mustard of factual scrutiny.  

Especially, in 2017 the worsening of the situation has not been slowed down. Ordinarily, the power supply in the first quarter is relatively ample; this year the red light has frequently flashed on and off. The 2^nd reactor in Nuclear Power Plant No. 2, on account that dry storage for spent fuel rods cannot start operations, will stop operating before the end of June at the latest. Thus, the capacity for power supply facilities will again be cut drastically; security in power supply will face a more severe challenge as a result.

The strategy for energy source transformation has been relegated to an operation in an air-conditioned office, and it has been delinked from the facts. With regard to facilities construction under Tsai Ying-wen’s plan of "thousands of wind turbines, millions of solar roofs," we can see the progress of the project, but the data for power generation can hardly face the public. The Tsai government set 2025 for growth of renewable energy to represent 20% of total power generation. However, in 2016, solar energy and wind power energy combined constituted only 1% of total power generation. From 1% to 20% is a very formidable challenge.

In 2016, Taiwan was included for the first time in the "International Energy Efficiency Comparisons." Among the 22 countries ranked in the study, Taiwan ranked 13^th , almost the lowest among Asian neighbors. Not only is the ranking embarrassing, it shows the low efficiency and waste in the use of energy sources, or not even half of the top ranked Germany’s energy efficiency. Taiwan nearly relies entirely on imported energy sources and energy efficiency is so low. Is it because Taiwan has so much money, having resources to squander?

We do not intend to debate issues related to a nuclear-free homeland or energy source transformation; however, security in energy sources and an adequate power supply are the unshirkable responsibility of the government. This year may possibly see another scorching summer; power consumption will continue to climb and the power supply will be more tense. There is no reason not to reactivate the three reactors in Nuclear Power Plant No. 1 and No. 2, after having completed an overhaul. New Taipei City has withheld the license for the dry storage of spent fuel rods in Nuclear Power Plant No. 1; this has to be reexamined. This relates to the interests of the entire populous; security in energy sources should be given top priority.

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