TAIWAN ADVANCING SUN

Taiwan Takes Its Place Among Industry Leaders
Bettina Weiss, October 2010 (The Grid/PV Group)

"Taiwan's high-tech industry is one of the great success stories in the world economy…According to the PV Status Report 2010 announced by the European Commission in August, PV cell production capacity in Taiwan is projected to reach 3GW in 2010 making Taiwan the 3rd largest solar cell production site in the world. Last quarter solar sales rose 95 percent to $1.1 billion…

"…Taiwan is making its mark contributing to global PV capacity…[and] contributing its share on the supply side…Last year, the Taiwan Legislative Yuan gave its final approval to the Renewable Energy Development Act to increase solar demand and bolster the development of Taiwan’s green energy industry…[It] authorized the Government to enhance feed-in tariff incentives for the development of solar energy and other programs to enhance industrial development. Among the goals of the law was the mandate to increase Taiwan’s renewable energy generation capacity by 6.5 GW to a total of 10 GW within 20 years."

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"Since the feed-n tariff was established, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) had received 981 photovoltaic (PV) system projects filed for application for feed-in tariff subsidization with total installation capacity of 151MWp, far exceeding the target of 64MWp for 2010…Global equipment and materials suppliers from around the world have been supporting Taiwan’s aggressive ramp in solar capacity…

"Taiwan offers a useful model for high tech and solar industry development…Hsinchu Science Park, founded in 1980 to spur technological development by offering tax breaks and other incentives to lure investors…boasts over 400 companies, including famous names such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's biggest chip foundry…"

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"…[T]he government has played a key role in establishing special funds for national scientific development, working out long-term plans and organization of specific responsibilities, and completing experimental centers for academic research…[It] takes an active planning role in bolstering national competitiveness through science and technology legislation…[and has] devised policies to develop important technologies based on the recommendations of the national science and technology conferences, which solicit opinions from industry, government agencies, and academic institutions…

"The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is the non-profit research institute located in Taiwan under the supervision of the Republic of China Ministry of Economic Affairs. It conducts R&D and other programs to advance private sector growth, spur innovation and accelerate commercialization. ITRI has over 6,000 employees and an operating budget of about US$510 million, half of which comes from private sources…[ITRI is] highly flexible in creating partnership with the private sector…[for] technology diffusion, technical assistance, research, special projects and technology transfer…[and works] to tie R&D and technology development to cost reduction and process efficiency in the fab…"