Editing Economy of Taiwan (section)

===Energy===
[[File:Wind power.JPG|thumb|Wind turbines, such as these in [[Qingshui District|Qingshui]], [[Taichung]], are part of the government's efforts in [[renewable energy commercialisation]]]]
{{Main|Energy in Taiwan}}

Due to the lack of [[natural resources]] on the island, Taiwan is forced to import many of its energy needs (currently at 98%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moeaboe.gov.tw/About/webpage/book_en1/page0.htm|title=Sustainable Development of Renewable Energy|publisher=Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bureau of Energy|access-date=25 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008140830/http://www.moeaboe.gov.tw/About/webpage/book_en1/page0.htm|archive-date=8 October 2011}}</ref> Imported energy totaled US$11.52 billion in 2002, accounting for 4.1% of its GDP.<ref name="energy">{{cite web|url=http://www.taiwan.com.au/Polieco/Industry/Energy/report01.html|title=Energy|website=Taiwan.com.au|access-date=25 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915013809/http://taiwan.com.au/Polieco/Industry/Energy/report01.html|archive-date=15 September 2009}}</ref> Although the industrial sector has traditionally been Taiwan's largest energy consumer, its share has dropped in recent years from 62% in 1986 to 58% in 2002.<ref name="energy" /> Taiwan's energy consumption is dominated by crude oil & petroleum products (48.52%), followed by coal (29.2%), natural gas (12.23%), [[nuclear power]] (8.33%), and [[hydroelectric power]] (0.28%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web3.moeaboe.gov.tw/ECW/english/content/wHandMenuFile.ashx?menu_id=1579|title=Energy Supply|publisher=Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bureau of Energy|access-date=24 November 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094637/http://web3.moeaboe.gov.tw/ECW/english/content/wHandMenuFile.ashx?menu_id=1579|url-status=live}}</ref> The island is also heavily dependent on imported oil, with 72% of its crude oil coming from the Middle East in 2002. Although the [[Taiwan Power Company]] (Taipower), a state-owned enterprise, is in charge of providing electricity for the Taiwan area, a 1994 measure has allowed [[Independent Power Producer|independent power producers]] (IPPs) to provide up to 20% of the island's energy needs.<ref name="eia">{{cite web|url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/taiwan.html|title=Taiwan|publisher=Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy, USA|access-date=25 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215030951/http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/taiwan.html|archive-date=15 December 2006}}</ref> [[Indonesia]] and [[Malaysia]] supply most of Taiwan's natural gas needs.<ref name="eia" /> It currently has three operational nuclear power plants. A fourth plant under construction was mothballed in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/02/04/2003610768 |title=AEC approves plan to shutter fourth nuclear facility |author=Lin, Sean |date=4 February 2015 |newspaper=Taipei Times |access-date=5 March 2015 |archive-date=9 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209060829/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/02/04/2003610768 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although Taiwan's per capita energy use is on par with neighboring Asian countries,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moeaboe.gov.tw/Download/opengovinfo/Plan/all/energy_year/main_en/files/01/chart-05.pdf|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5ylfo8RFw?url=http://www.moeaboe.gov.tw/Download/opengovinfo/Plan/all/energy_year/main_en/files/01/chart-05.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 May 2011|title=Per Capita GDP and Primary Energy Consumption in Major Countries (2007)|publisher=Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bureau of Energy|access-date=25 December 2010}}</ref> in July 2005 the [[Ministry of Economic Affairs (Republic of China)|Ministry of Economic Affairs]] announced plans to cut 170 million tons of [[carbon dioxide]] [[Greenhouse gas#Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities|emissions]] by 2025.<ref name="eia" /> In 2010, carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by 5.14 million metric tons.<ref name="cens">{{cite news|url=http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_34698.html|title=Taiwan's Green Energy Production Value Surges to NT$340B. in First 11 Months of 2010|publisher=CENS|date=23 December 2010|access-date=25 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724032914/http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_34698.html|archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> In order to further reduce emissions, the government also plans to increase [[efficient energy use|energy efficiency]] by 2% each year through 2020.<ref name="biofuels" /> In addition, by 2015, emissions are planned to be reduced by 7% compared to 2005 levels.<ref name="biofuels" />

Taiwan is the world's 4th largest producer of solar-powered batteries and largest [[light emitting diode|LED]] manufacturer by volume.<ref name="cens" /> In 2010, Taiwan had over 1.66 million square meters of [[Solar thermal collector|solar heat collectors]] installed, with an installation density that ranks it as third in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=II. Solar Energy |url=http://www.moeaboe.gov.tw/About/webpage/book_en1/page2.htm|access-date=25 December 2010 |publisher=Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bureau of Energy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008140952/http://www.moeaboe.gov.tw/About/webpage/book_en1/page2.htm |archive-date=8 October 2011}}</ref> The government has already built 155 sets of [[wind turbine]]s capable of producing 281.6 MW of electricity, and additional projects are planned or under construction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moeaboe.gov.tw/About/webpage/book_en1/page1.htm|title=I. Wind Energy|publisher=Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bureau of Energy|access-date=25 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008141006/http://www.moeaboe.gov.tw/About/webpage/book_en1/page1.htm|archive-date=8 October 2011}}</ref> Renewable energy accounts for 6.8% of Taiwan's energy usage as of 2010.<ref name="biofuels" /> In 2010, the [[sustainable energy|green energy]] sector generated US$10.97 billion in production value.<ref name="cens" /> The government also announced plans to invest US$838 million for [[renewable energy]] promotion and an additional US$635 million for [[research and development]].<ref name="biofuels">{{cite web|url=http://www.biofuelswatch.com/investment-plan-by-taiwan/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718035737/http://www.biofuelswatch.com/investment-plan-by-taiwan/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 July 2011|title=Investment Plan by Taiwan|publisher=Biofuels Watch|author=Edward C. Gates |date=25 December 2010|access-date=25 December 2010}}</ref>