April 9, 2007
Construction is slated to begin soon of Taiwan's first "Solar City" at the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP). The project is expected to receive government approval as a national-level plan next month.
The first stage of the project, which spans five years, will receive subsidies for the installation of solar power generation facilities for 4,000 users. The facilities cost
NTD 300,000 per user, and will provide 2 kilowatts of solar power per user.
Motech, one of Taiwan's foremost solar cell companies, is expected to take a leading role in initiating construction of Solar City with an investment of
NTD 100 million.
According to the "The STSP Solar City Plan", the Solar City will be located in a specially designated area at the STSP. The plan calls for solar energy-related infrastructure and facilities to be completed this year. The facilities will eventually supply 4,000 users with solar power, at a rate of 800 users per year. Each user will be subsidized for solar energy generation facilities supplying 2 kilowatts. Every kilowatt will be subsidized for
NTD 150,000, with subsidies of
NTD 240 million per year.
It is estimated that after the first stage of construction is completed, 14.78 million kilowatt-hours of electricity generation will be saved, which includes power used for public infrastructure.
Tainan County Commissioner Su Huan-chih noted at a recent discussion seminar on economic development in Tainan County that Germany and other advanced nations have already subsidized construction of solar energy buildings. Su expressed his hope at the seminar that the central government would lend its support to the plans.
The plan has already elicited considerable interest from prominent technology companies such as Motech, Eton, Taiwan Semiconductor, Chi Mei Optoelectronics, and the China Electric Manufacturing Corp.
An industry representative said that if the government could subsidize half of the costs per kilowatt (
NTD 150,000), then this would offer a compelling incentive to participate in the plan.
The representative noted that solar power energy generation facilities supplying 2 kilowatts are enough to supply a normal household's electricity needs, and can save considerable costs on electricity. Currently, every major company is moving to invest in the solar energy industry and in the future, installation costs per kilowatt will gradually decrease, said the representative.
Tainan is a very suitable place to promote solar energy generation, as it enjoys abundant sunshine and is home to the largest cluster of solar optoelectronics companies, said Motech Solar CEO Simon Tsuo.
Tsuo revealed that Motech has indicated its interest to the Tainan County Government in participating in the "STSP Solar City" plan with the construction of four buildings housing solar energy generation facilities. Each building will provide 3 kilowatts of power at an estimated cost of over
NTD 30 million per building.
Tsuo said that Motech has already completed helping with the necessary preparations for the Solar City. First stage construction could begin once a timetable is established by the authorities, he said. After the construction of the four buildings, during the first year they would supply power to sample rooms at the City, and would be open to the public for viewing.
(Economic Daily News)
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