- Taiwan shut down its last nuclear plant at Maanshan in May 2025, ending nearly 50 years of nuclear power.
- Nuclear once supplied over half of Taiwan’s electricity but dropped to just 4% by 2024 amid a government push for a nuclear-free, renewable future.
- Public support for extending nuclear power remained high, yet government policy stayed firm after fierce debate and referenda.
- Prototype smart homes in Tainan demonstrate Taiwan’s commitment to solar, battery storage, energy efficiency, and clean technology.
- Taiwan still relies on fossil fuels for over 70% of power and imports 97% of its energy, raising concerns about resilience and independence.
- The transition to renewables faces challenges, especially from growing energy demands of tech giants and industry.
Dawn broke over Maanshan, Pingtung County, on May 17, 2025, ushering in a historic pivot for Taiwan. At the southern tip of the island, a landscape long punctuated by steam plumes from its last nuclear reactors stood quiet, their turbines stilled—a near fifty-year era closed as the final switch was flipped at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant.
The first surge of nuclear current had coursed through Taiwan’s grid in 1978, with the opening of the Chin Shan plant’s boiling water reactor. Four sprawling nuclear sites, each with two powerful reactor units—including the unfinished Lungmen—soon became synonomous with progress. At their zenith, these reactors fueled over half the island’s demand, keeping neon-lit skylines and world-renowned factories humming through the eighties and nineties.
By 2024, nuclear’s midnight-blue lure had faded to just 4% of the electricity mix. President Tsai Ing-wen’s government, guided by a Executive Yuan pledge, pressed forward with an audacious plan: make Taiwan a model of nuclear-free, emissions-cutting innovation, despite rising skepticism and seemingly insatiable appetites for power from industry titans like TSMC and the global tech sector.
- 1978: Taiwan’s nuclear journey begins at Chin Shan.
- 1985: Maanshan’s reactors come online.
- 2016: The Lungmen project, beset by disaster fears and politics, is permanently shelved.
- 2025: The last reactor’s cooling rods lower for the final time.
The decision did not pass quietly. Polls cited by opposition Kuomintang (KMT) claimed 73% public support to extend nuclear generation. National figures like Tzu-hsien Tung called nuclear power “very important to Taiwan” for grid stability. Fierce debates flared over whether referenda had been respected—or railroaded by party politics. Yet, after a razor-thin defeat for the proposal to resume one of Lungmen’s reactors, a torch was firmly passed to renewables and innovation.
Meanwhile, in hidden corridors and sun-bright classrooms across the island, civil society galvanized. After two decades of activism, the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance (GCAA) retooled its celebrated No Nukes film festival as the Climate Tipping Point Film Festival, screening hard-hitting works like “Atomic Bamboozle: The False Promise of a Nuclear Renaissance.” GCAA’s Chen Shi-ting recounted record crowds—over 1,000 engaged viewers in a single weekend—joining spirited post-film debates on energy, justice, and Taiwan’s vision for survival in a warming world.
The heart of this new vision beats in Tainan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)-backed Shalun Green Energy Technology Demonstration Site, a model miniature of tomorrow’s Taiwan. There, beneath a sweep of solar arrays and test-centers, the smart, emission-free future springs to life—not as science-fiction, but as living, breathing homes.
- Solar-powered water heating glints from rooftops.
- Heat pumps and air-circulation systems banish humidity, trimmed by AI-driven sensors.
- Garages double as battery sanctuaries and EV charging nodes, ready for the cars of 2030.
- Information panels glow with transparent data on every watt flowing through the house.
Staying in one of these four-bedroom prototypes, a visitor can gaze east through wide windows to banks of solar panels, evidence of the transformation at hand. Kitchens still feature gas stoves—reminders of the road left to travel—but every other system whispers of a cleaner tomorrow. Walking through shaded courtyards, the silence is striking, punctuated only by the rustle of leaves and the soft hum of electricity born from the sun itself.
The biggest challenges, however, lurk just beyond these glass and steel laboratories. Taiwan’s power needs—a relentless climb in step with its tech sector—have made fossil fuels a stubborn backbone, supplying over 70% of electricity. Imports account for a staggering 97% of energy supply, exposing Taiwan to geopolitical risk and raising tough questions about independence and resilience in any regional crisis.
Mindful of this, Taiwan’s leadership persists with ambitious targets: sourcing 20% of electricity from renewables, promoting a Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 plan across government and private industry. Initiatives like the Green Technology Industry Innovation Promotion Plan, the Renewable Energy Development Act, and national action strategies point to the forward march—if not a sprint.
Yet, the uneasy marriage between promise and reality persists. Renewable generation, though doubled in recent years, has yet to eclipse the enormity of coal, oil, and gas. Proposals for costly small modular reactors offer tantalizing, if controversial, alternatives. Meanwhile, the same semiconductor giants that define Taiwan’s economy are among the most voracious consumers of steady, emission-free electricity. Google, for its part, has already purchased geothermal power from Taiwan’s grid, setting a precedent—but only time will reveal if such deals can light entire cities, not just data centers.
Dr. Josie-Marie Perkuhn—political scientist and East Asia specialist—reminds us of the long-haul challenge: the world is watching as Taiwan scripts a bold, high-stakes play for climate leadership, energy security, and technological innovation. The country’s journey from atomic age to green silicon island teems with lessons—on courage, compromise, and what it truly means to power a modern society on sunlight and the restless wind.
As Taiwan’s shores slip ever deeper into the post-nuclear twilight, the next chapter is unwritten—but every bright window in Tainan hints at a future just within reach.
- Author: Dr. Josie-Marie Perkuhn, Joint postdoc research leader at Trier University and ISPK non-resident fellow. Her ongoing research deciphers the intersections of energy policy, climate action, and international security.
You Won’t Believe These Surprising Pros & Cons of Taiwan’s Post-Nuclear Energy Revolution!
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Pros:
Climate Ambitions: The Taiwanese government, led by the Executive Yuan, has boldly committed to renewable energy and a Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 vision, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and position Taiwan as a regional green leader.
Public Engagement: Civil society groups like the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance have successfully rallied citizens and amplified environmental issues, sparking unprecedented participation and debate.
Innovation Hubs: Investments in sites such as the Industrial Technology Research Institute power advanced smart homes and demonstrate the potential for cleaner, smarter energy futures.
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Cons & Limitations:
Energy Insecurity: Taiwan imports around 97% of its energy, making the country highly vulnerable to external shocks and regional geopolitical risks.
Fossil Fuel Reliance: Despite rapid growth in renewables, more than 70% of electricity still comes from coal, oil, and gas, raising concerns about real-world progress toward emission targets.
Industrial Demands: Heavyweights like TSMC and other tech giants require immense, stable electricity supplies that renewables alone may not yet reliably provide.
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Controversies:
Nuclear Exit Debate: Opposition parties like the Kuomintang and many citizens claimed public opinion—and crucial referenda—were ignored, fueling political tension over whether to extend nuclear generation.
Unfinished Projects: The cancellation of projects such as Lungmen cast long shadows over previous investments and planning, and raised doubts about long-term energy strategies.
Cost & Technology Barriers: Green innovation requires huge investments. Proposed advances, like small modular reactors, remain controversial and expensive, with no consensus on their role in Taiwan’s future mix.
Game-Changer Forecast: What Will Power Taiwan’s Next Decade?
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Surge in Renewable Energy Innovations
Taiwan is expected to rapidly accelerate investments in green technology, following its ambitious goals under the Executive Yuan. Watch for cutting-edge advancements championed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute, as next-gen solar, wind, and geothermal solutions become increasingly mainstream in both urban and rural areas.
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Corporate Leadership in Sustainable Power
Industrial giants such as TSMC and global tech players like Google are set to deepen investments in clean energy procurement. Expect a wave of long-term power purchase agreements and private-sector-driven renewable projects, especially as companies strive to meet both market demands and global climate expectations.
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Emergence of Smart Homes and Grid Tech
Technologies piloted at the Shalun Green Energy Technology Demonstration Site will go nationwide, with AI-optimized homes, battery storage, and EV charging becoming household standards. ITRI and similar institutes will lead the mass integration of real-time energy monitoring and smart optimization across the grid.
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Debate and Possible Resurgence of Nuclear Alternatives
While the nuclear era has officially ended, pressure from groups such as the Kuomintang and industry leaders may revive discussions around alternative nuclear technologies—especially small modular reactors. Policy shifts and technology breakthroughs could spark renewed public debate in the late 2020s.
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Decisive Push Toward Energy Independence
With a heavy reliance on energy imports, national security concerns will drive research and incentives for domestically sourced renewables and grid resilience. The Taiwanese government is poised to prioritize the Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 plan, aiming to gradually reduce fossil fuel consumption and boost local capacity.
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Societal Engagement and Green Movements
Expect grassroots organizations such as the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance to play a pivotal role in public education and climate activism. Energy justice, transparency, and sustainability are set to become even more prominent in civil discourse, shaping policy from the bottom up.
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Forecast: From 2025–2035
Analysts predict Taiwan’s renewables will approach or exceed 20% of total electricity by 2030. Ongoing policy efforts, entrepreneurial innovation, and public-private partnerships will be critical in driving Taiwan closer to net-zero emissions by 2050—and the world will be watching for the lessons, triumphs, and potential setbacks along the journey.
