Taiwan and Germany signed the Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field of Energy Transition Dec. 21 in Taipei City, signaling the strong partnership between the two sides and their commitment to fostering collaboration in the energy sector.
According to the Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the declaration will boost cooperation across a range of energy transition issues, including the sharing of knowledge and experience on energy policies, management and technologies as well as the promotion of clean energy.
The declaration was signed by Taiwan’s representative to Germany Shieh Jhy-wey and German Institute in Taipei Director-General Martin Eberts at a ceremony hosted by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Chih-chung Wu.
Under the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan has launched an expansive green energy development program. The government has set a target of producing 20 percent of the nation’s electricity from renewable sources by 2025, with the majority of this expected to come from new solar and offshore wind power facilities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shieh hailed Germany’s pioneering efforts in the development of renewable energy technology. “Through public and private sector collaboration, the two sides can form a strategic alliance to jointly develop the energy market in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.
The BOE said in a statement that the declaration will pave the way for enhanced industrial cooperation and help the two nations further their goals of transitioning to nuclear-free homelands. “By connecting and matching industries and businesses in the energy sectors of Taiwan and Germany, we hope to strengthen our complementary and mutually beneficial partnership in all aspects of energy transition and to foster economic and trade opportunities,” the bureau stated.
MOFA Deputy Minister Wu said at the signing ceremony that the nation’s renewable energy development efforts underscore its commitment to tackling climate change. He noted that Taiwan has written into law a target for lowering carbon emissions, a commitment that can be further bolstered by the declaration.
Under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act, promulgated in July 2015, the nation has established the long-term goal of cutting emissions to at least half of the 2005 levels by 2050. This target is in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, a landmark accord concluded at the 21st annual Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in the French capital last year that aims to keep global temperature rise this century below 2 C. (KWS-E)
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