Energy

According to the Taiwan government, all nuclear power facilities on the island will be closed by 2025. In response, Taipei’s energy plan currently anticipates an expansion in the use of renewable energy sources. However, their adoption faces considerable bureaucratic, regulatory, infrastructural, climatic, and security obstacles. Pamir assesses a nuclear-free policy will very likely exacerbate Taiwan’s dependence on external sources of energy, adversely impacting Taiwan’s energy security and, ultimately, national security. 

China is forging ahead with new renewable energy systems – and battery storage technologies that are needed to store intermittent energy sources, such as wind and solar.

Last month, Chinese premier Li Qiang approved just over $33 billion in funding for the construction of 11 new nuclear reactors in five coastal provinces. This approval is representative of Beijing’s general push in recent years toward decarbonization of its energy industry.