Taipei: Taiwan should make its power system more decentralized and resilient, learning lessons from Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, experts said Saturday.
According to Focus Taiwan, at a forum hosted by the Taiwan-based think tank DSET in Taipei, experts from Ukraine, the United States, Japan, and Taiwan discussed how Taiwan could strengthen energy security and prepare for potential disruptions caused by conflict or blockades. Anton Antonenko, vice president and co-founder of the Ukrainian think tank DiXi Group, noted that the Russian attacks on Ukraine have highlighted vulnerabilities in large, centralized energy systems. He emphasized the importance of distributed power generation, regional self-sufficiency, and systems that can be quickly repaired during crises.
Antonenko explained that Russian attacks have targeted not only power plants but also substations, transmission networks, water systems, and other critical infrastructure, creating a "multi-crisis" environment. He advocated for the development of modular and flexible energy systems, maintaining spare parts inventories, and strengthening grid resilience.
Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), pointed out that energy remains one of Taiwan's most vulnerable areas in a conflict scenario due to the island's heavy reliance on imported fuel. He stressed that while stockpiles and contingency measures could help mitigate disruptions, energy resilience should be a priority.
Tomohisa Takei, a senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, highlighted that Taiwan and Japan share similar vulnerabilities because both depend heavily on imported energy and maritime trade routes. He referenced a policy simulation conducted by the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in 2024, which suggested that strengthening energy self-sufficiency, protecting sea lines of communication, and deepening cooperation with partners are critical during a contingency. Takei added that a Taiwan crisis would have direct implications for Japan, making close coordination essential for maintaining access to energy supplies and commercial shipping routes.
Wu Chin-chung, vice president of Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower), mentioned that the state-owned utility has been working to decentralize Taiwan's power grid following several major blackouts in recent years. Taiwan is expanding disaster-prevention microgrids, strengthening backup systems for critical infrastructure, and conducting regular drills to improve recovery capabilities in emergencies. Wu also highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity in energy resilience, noting that Taipower faces around 30,000 attempted cyberattacks daily. During former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in 2022, the company experienced over 3 million attempted attacks over three days.