- Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor in May 2025, ending nearly 50 years of nuclear-powered electricity amid growing demand for emission-free energy.
- Despite renewable energy output more than doubling in seven years, coal and oil now supply over 70% of Taiwan’s electricity, making the island heavily import-dependent and raising concerns about energy security.
- Public debate continues over nuclear energy, with experts and opposition leaders questioning grid resilience, while civil society groups drive environmental awareness and scrutiny of government actions.
- The government pursues a 2050 net-zero goal through policy incentives, demonstration sites like Shalun Green Energy, and initiatives promoting zero-emission living and public participation.
- Smart homes, solar panels, and battery storage showcase Taiwan’s ambition, but scaling innovations to serve 23 million faces cultural and technological challenges amid global attention.
Faint morning light streaks across the brushed concrete of the Industrial Technology Research Institute‘s emission-free model house in Tainan. Beyond sleek solar panels glittering under southern skies, the final chapter of Taiwan’s nuclear age has quietly closed. On May 17, 2025, the nation powered down Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant—its last running reactor—signaling not just the retirement of nearly fifty years of atom-split electricity, but the stakes loaded onto a new, pressing gamble: Can renewables secure the island’s energy ambitions?
Through the late 20th century, nuclear energy coursed through Taiwan’s rapid modernization like a current beneath its technological ascent. At its peak, more than half of the island’s electricity surged from its reactors. But the memory of disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima, paired with ardent civil society campaigns and the rise of the Democratic Progressive Party, shifted public will and policy. By the end of 2024, nuclear’s contribution had dwindled to just 4 percent of the nation’s energy mix.
Yet, as reactors fell silent, Taiwan’s hunger for energy only grew hungrier. The clamor of Taipei’s subways and the hum of TSMC chipmaking cleanrooms all demand ceaseless, emission-free power. Viewed from another angle, the island is vulnerable—importing 97 percent of its energy and leaning hard on the precarious crutch of coal and oil, which now supply over 70 percent of its electricity. The numbers climb: electricity use per capita soared from 8,885 kWh in 2003 to 11,846 kWh in 2023—a stark curve driven by tech, urban comfort, and dreams of global leadership.
Clicking through energy dashboards, tech giants like Google strike headline-making green power deals, chasing geothermal promises. But for all the progress—renewables output more than doubling in seven years—fundamental questions persist. Can Taiwan transition its grid fast enough? What happens in a crisis?
- Public debate over nuclear’s fate remains heated. In early 2025, opposition leaders pointed to polls showing strong support for continued atomic energy. Experts like Tzu-hsien Tung warned of eroding resilience without a stable domestic power source. Some, including outspoken nuclear advocate Anton Ming-Zhi Gao, questioned whether referenda were truly respected by the government.
- Civil society voices—embodied by the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance (GCAA)—have wielded formidable influence. Their annual film festival, rebranded in 2023 as the “Climate Tipping Point Film Festival,” delivered a global reel of environmental anxieties. Screenings this May prompted spirited dialogue on the trade-offs of energy transitions, drawing more than a thousand participants and fresh scrutiny of tech industry claims.
- The government presses ahead with comprehensive plans. A mosaic of initiatives guides Taiwan toward a 2050 net-zero target. Laws incentivize renewable deployment, while demonstration projects open doors for the public to explore and imagine zero-emission living. Participation is woven into policy, with model homes designed to spark both curiosity and debate.
The Shalun Green Energy Technology Demonstration Site casts this story in deliberate, human scale. For two days, I settled into its four-bedroom, near-futuristic house—spacious, sun-drenched, haunted by the faint scent of new technology. Panel-controlled lights responded to movement. Air whooshed softly, cycled through a heat pump and smart air-cooling system. The kitchen juxtaposed tradition and innovation: a familiar gas stove, but every other system fueled by sunlight. Out past the garage, neutrally colored batteries stored surplus power, while an electric vehicle charging station waited, ready for a low-carbon commute.
- Solar panels dominated the south-facing façade, feeding direct current into the home and site grid.
- Information screens mapped energy savings and live efficiency, transforming abstract environmental goals into daily, tactile awareness.
- Smart energy monitoring and battery storage offered control even as clouds rolled past and patterns of use shifted.
This setting, equal parts oasis and laboratory, provided a glimpse—and a challenge. To live without fossil fuels, or the quiet reliability of nuclear baseload, requires both technological prowess and cultural change. The government’s vision reaches far, but the reality is harder: How will such innovation be scaled up to a society of 23 million, or insulated from geopolitical turbulence?
Backed by rigorous science and intensifying public dialogue, Taiwan’s experiment is watched with keen interest by experts in energy security, environmental governance, and policy design. Can a densely populated island with scant natural resources become Asia’s “green silicon island”—not just for a weekend, but as the bedrock of its technological future? The answer carries implications for democracies everywhere navigating the tightrope between climate pledges, energy demands, and public consent.
The next decade will reveal whether the island’s smart homes and surging wind farms can anchor a resilient, sovereign system—or if the nuclear ghosts of Maanshan, Chin Shan, and Kuosheng will haunt the edges of Taiwan’s electric dreams.
Dr. Josie-Marie Perkuhn is a researcher specializing in digitalization, energy, and climate policy, leading the “Taiwan as a Pioneer” postdoctoral project at Trier University and affiliated with international policy institutes.
You Won’t Believe What’s Powering Taiwan Now: The Surprising Pros, Cons, and Controversies of a Nuclear-Free Future
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Pros of Taiwan’s Energy Transition
- Reduced Nuclear Risk: Shutting down aging reactors—like the Taiwan Power Company‘s Maanshan facility—minimizes catastrophic accident risks, assuaging public fears post-Fukushima.
- Climate Ambitions: Aggressive adoption of renewables supports the government’s net-zero target by 2050 and reduces national carbon emissions.
- Innovation and Public Engagement: Projects from Industrial Technology Research Institute and demonstration sites foster cutting-edge solutions while educating citizens on clean living.
- Empowered Civil Society: Groups like the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance elevate environmental concerns and provide grassroots oversight.
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Cons and Limitations
- Energy Security Fears: Taiwan still imports 97% of its energy—a sharp vulnerability, especially given geopolitical tensions and the dominant use of coal and oil.
- Baseload Uncertainty: Without nuclear, grid stability and resilience may suffer during renewables’ intermittency or sudden demand spikes.
- Scaling Challenges: Smart, sustainable homes and tech pilots are impressive, but rapidly expanding them to an entire population remains daunting.
- Rising Power Demand: Tech sector growth (driven by firms like TSMC and Google) pushes electricity use ever higher, putting strain on renewable capacity expansion.
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Controversies and Public Debate
- Democratic Dissonance: Polls and referenda have shown significant support for retaining some nuclear power, but the Democratic Progressive Party government pressed ahead with the phaseout, sparking accusations of ignoring public will.
- Civil Society vs Industry: The influence of organizations like the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance shapes policy and public perception, but faces pushback from experts and industry leaders worried about grid reliability.
- Tech Sector Critique: Large companies’ green power commitments draw scrutiny—are their headline deals enough to offset the massive energy demands of a “green silicon island”?
Bottom Line: Taiwan’s bold pivot from nuclear to renewables is an inspiring experiment in clean energy, but it brings new vulnerabilities, heated debate, and no guaranteed solutions for an island hungry for power and security.
Shocking Energy Shifts: What’s Next for Taiwan After Its Last Nuclear Plant Shutdown?
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Rapid Expansion of Renewables Will Accelerate
With the closure of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, Taiwan is poised to supercharge investments in solar and wind power. Large-scale demonstration projects, such as those at the Industrial Technology Research Institute and the Shalun Green Energy Technology Demonstration Site, are expected to serve as blueprints for expanding rooftop solar, offshore wind, and energy storage throughout the country.
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Smart Grid and Digital Energy Management Take Center Stage
As intermittent renewables dominate Taiwan’s energy mix, the government and partners like TSMC will increasingly adopt smart grid technologies and digital monitoring. Expect more homes, factories, and public spaces equipped with real-time energy dashboards and automated systems, inspired by early adopters highlighted in recent pilot projects.
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Energy Security and Import Risk Spark Innovation
Taiwan’s heavy reliance on imported coal and gas—now over 70 percent—makes energy security a hot topic. The coming years will see elevated efforts to develop domestic alternatives, like geothermal power, and to promote research via government agencies such as the National Development Council.
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Deeper Public Participation and Civil Society Influence
Expect organizations like the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance to play an even more prominent role, using events and campaigns to spark citizen debate and grassroots oversight around Taiwan’s transition roadmap and climate pledges.
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Major Corporations Will Lead Low-Carbon Deals
Tech giants—ranging from domestic leaders to global companies like Google—will strike more headline-making green power agreements, helping to cement renewables as central to Taiwan’s industry and export competitiveness.
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Net-Zero Policy and Innovation Targets
Taiwan’s net-zero target for 2050 is set to drive continued incentives, research funding, and pilot programs in areas such as energy storage, electric vehicles, and emissions tracking.
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Heated Debate Over Nuclear Resurgence Remains Possible
Though reactors have been retired, the nuclear debate is far from over. Political opposition and some experts are expected to keep the issue alive, especially if power reliability falters, with pressure mounting for referenda or policy reviews in the late 2020s.
As the world watches, Taiwan’s next steps—driven by government, industry, and a vocal public—promise not just technological innovation, but a living experiment in democracy’s role within the clean energy revolution.
