Cabinet Approves Subsidy Plan for Rooftop Solar Panels.

Taipei: The Executive Yuan has announced the approval of a new subsidy program designed to promote the installation of rooftop solar panels on private residential buildings. This initiative aims to offer financial incentives of up to NT$300,000 (US$9,257) per installation, potentially driving significant growth in solar energy capacity across Taiwan. According to Focus Taiwan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) detailed that the "Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Installation Acceleration Plan" targets residential buildings with rooftop areas under 1,000 square meters. Eligible applicants, including building owners and solar energy companies, can receive cash rebates of NT$3,000 per kilowatt of installed capacity, capped at NT$300,000 per project. The program is set to run from 2025 to 2028, with a total budget allocation of NT$4.08 billion. The initiative is expected to generate around NT$72 billion in solar energy investments and benefit approximately 120,000 households. The MOEA has emphasized a stre amlined application process, with local governments facilitating both the registration of new solar panels and subsidy applications. Applicants will need to provide just five documents: the subsidy application form, identification, solar panel registration, purchase receipt, and a bankbook copy. Energy Administration Director-General Yu Cheng-wei highlighted that this new program is designed to enhance existing local government solar energy subsidies, which vary across regions. For example, New Taipei offers rebates of NT$15,000 per kilowatt for systems up to 10 KW, while Taichung and Kaohsiung provide NT$5,000 to NT$10,000 and NT$6,000 to NT$12,000 per kilowatt, respectively. The current cost for installing rooftop solar panels stands at NT$55,000 to NT$60,000 per kilowatt. Taiwan's current installed solar power capacity is approximately 13.82 gigawatts, with rooftop systems accounting for 8.76 GW or 63 percent. The country plans to increase its solar capacity to 20 GW by 2026 and 31 GW by 2030. In 2023, r enewable energy sources supplied 9.5 percent of Taiwan's total electricity, with solar energy contributing to about half of the renewable energy output, equating to 4 to 5 percent of total electricity generation.