Solar Power Systems: Tainan's Low-carbon City Plan's Good Helper

To achieve the goal of building a low-carbon city, the Tainan municipal government of Taiwan has been actively promoting more solar power generation systems on building roofs. It formulated a low-carbon city ordinance to require users, who have contracted to consume more than 800kW of electricity, to set up solar power systems to generate at least 10% of the contracted amount of electricity before December 28, 2017. Those who do not complete the project on schedule will receive punishment and should make rectifications within a time limit. The Tainan Bureau of Energy indicated that so far there are 601 users required to establish the systems. But only 76 of them have already finished and other 465 users are still waiting for installation.

The bureau also pointed out many users do not make meaningful progress and they need to receive a deeper understanding of the situation from the public.

Carrying Out Both Subsidies and Public Premises to Boost Solar Power Systems

The Tainan municipal government launched the Solar Electricity Project Plan in 2011. The plan began to promote the establishment of solar power system demonstration zone. One of the measures is to divide the 37 administrative areas into 5 cases. And the government will approve the successful bidders to build solar power systems for the public premises. After all the projects, the government can receive NT $ 20 million incomes annually.

Besides, residences, factory buildings and agricultural facilities are also encouraged to set up photovoltaic devices to generate electricity with the support of the government. The Tainan Economic Development Board said, the government will compile the subsidy budget and develop the assistance program annually. A large number of subsidies will be presented to encourage citizens’ solar actions. The maximum amount of subsidy can reach NT $ 990,000. This year the government has a provision of NT $ 30 million budget. Until the end of July there are 227 applications, a total of NT $ 13.96 million. comment↓

In terms of the number of installations, from 2011 to July 31, 2016, the recorded cases reach 3,134. The capacity is more than 190MW, which can generate about 237,560,000 KWH - equivalent to 86% of the capacity of Tsang-Wen Reservoir Hydroelectric Power Plant.