Taiwanese Energy Passage

Under the direction and guidance of the Taiwan PV Advisory Committee, the SEMI PV Group urged the swift passage of the Renewable Energy Act to increase the adoption of solar power in Taiwan.  With the goal of making Taiwan the world's third-largest producer of solar cells by 2015, SEMI Taiwanand its members are advocating a greater role for PV in the region's renewable energy plan to boost development of the island's green energy industries.

At a recent SEMI Taiwan PV Committee quarterly meeting, the group welcomed regional legislators  Lo Ming-Tsai and section manager of Bureau of Energy, Huang Yu-chin to participate in an open dialogue with PV manufacturers to discuss progress on the region's renewable energy plan.  During the meeting, the SEMI Taiwan PV Advisory Committee created a PV public policy advocacy group that subsequently met with the premier of the Executive Yuan and the Legislative Yuan on May 22 accompanied by Lo to discuss the acceleration of the renewable energy bill, as it would act as a key catalyst for the development of the PV industry in Taiwan. Terry Tsao, president of SEMI Taiwan, was on hand to urge the premier to pass the bill into law before the end of the current legislative session.

"We are pleased that President Ma supports the green power industry. The industry as a whole hopes we can pass the Renewable Energy Act during the current legislative session,” said Tsao.  “Once these policies give the industry a boost, companies will be more than willing to increase investment, boosting domestic demand and allowing for greater expansion globally, which will create more jobs in the process.”

SEMI Taiwan has beena longtime advocate of the proliferation of PV technologies, and through its PV Group initiative is deeply involved in supporting its members across the PV supply chain through the development of PV-industry standards; Environmental,Health and Safety; market statistics, and global expositions.  Taiwan PV Advisory Committee members include the CEOs of Motech, E-Ton, AUO,

Chi-mei, Nexpower,and Neo Solar Power, among others.

The SEMI Taiwan PV Committee jointly drafted the "Taiwan Solar Energy Public Policy WhitePaper."

Tsai Chin-yao,chairman of Auria Solar, acted as spokesperson to present the seven following suggestions:

1.         Make imported components exempt from the commodity tax, duties, and other relevant taxes.

2.         Provide low-interest project financing through financial institutions.

3.         Introduce national standard certification.

4.         Raise the selling price of electricity.

5.         Require that solar energy companies comprise 1/3 of the Price Regulation Committee.

6.         Expand resources from foundations.

7.         Make donations of PV industry products tax-deductible or tax-exempt.

“PV manufacturers in Taiwan expect the government to help grow the industry by offering a range of tax incentives on imported parts and materials and funding support,” said Tsai Chin-Yao, chairman of the SEMI Taiwan PV Committee and CEO of Auria solar.  “Weneed officials to pay serious attention to this opportunity, and we are happy to have gained additional support from other legislators and associations, who have joined us to both support and accelerate this agenda.”The currently-approved plan is backed by a five-year budget of NT $20 billion (US$597 million), which is specifically dedicated toward investment in the research and development of green energy technologies, and is expected to, in turn, generate NT $200 billion (US$5.97biilion) in private investments for the industry.  In addition, it will also provide NT $25billion (US$746 million) to promote the installation of green energy or energy-saving equipment or systems, as was indicated by the Executive Yuan.