Central and Local Governments in Cooperation to Jointly Build Solar PV Cities
The Bureau of Energy (BOE),Ministry of Economic Affairs, set up the Million Rooftop PV Pavilion at the Solar Taiwan 2014 International Photovoltaic Exposition. On the opening day of June 17, the BOE hosted the 2014 Solar City Forum. Local governments' representatives from New Taipei City, Taichung City, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Tainan City and Kaohsiung City were invited to share their experience and accomplishments with an eye to engaging more local governments' interest in PV installation.
In the opening remark at the 2014 Solar City Forum, Mr. Jin-Sheng Su, Director of BOE introduced the measures that the central government has taken to promote PV, including PV-ESCO, green financing and the Solar Community Initiative. To engage local governments' interest, the bid-exempt threshold for municipalities has been increased to 5 MW in this year (2014), and the assistance is provided to promote the rental of public roof spaces. Ten municipalities have been installed on the public roof spaces by the end of May, with a total of contract capacity reaching 74 MW. In order to mobilizing investment, the Green Financing Conference and the PV Financing Human Resource Training Program targeted 16 banks to facilitate at least 7 billion NTD in PV system financing.
The municipal governments also shared their accomplishments in the utilization of solar PV at the Forum. For instance, Taichung City promoted the roof rental services in schools, public health centers, public markets and police stations. Nantou County installed 12 MW on the building roofs in the elementary and high schools. New Taipei City offered installation subsidies to citizens and businesses in addition to promoting the use of public roof spaces. Tainan City set aside 50 million NTD in equipment subsidies. Kaohsiung City loosened its local building codes to facilitate PV installation. Yunlin County introduced the dedicated PV zone in its "Yunlin-Changhua Golden Agricultural Corridor Project". It is hoped that the sharing of these excellent achievements by local governments will help to initiate even more solar PV cities.
The Solar Taiwan 2014 International Photovoltaic Exposition lasted from June 17 to 19. The public learned about the promotional strategies, incentives and environmental benefits of BOE's Million Rooftop PV initiative at the Million Rooftop PV Pavilion. By the end of 2014, the installation capacity is expected to reach 600 MW. This will become a significant contribution to the utilization of renewable energy with 750 million kWh of electricity generation in each year, equivalent to the power need for 210,000 households or a reduction of 400,000 tons in carbon dioxide emission.
BOE Spokesperson: Yu-chen WU, Deputy Director-General
Phone: 02-2773-4729 Mobile: 0910365769
Email: jennifer@moeaboe.gov.tw
Contact Window: Jin-sheng SU, Director
Phone: 02-2775-7770 Mobile: 0928-825633
Email: jssu@moeaboe.gov.tw
Technical advisor: Chung-hsie CHEN, Section Chief
Phone: 02-2775-7778 Mobile: 0919998339
Email: ctchen@moeaboe.gov.tw