Key Amendment: Relaxed Installation Requirements for Power-Intensive Users
The Economics Committee of the Legislative Yuan preliminarily approved partial amendments to the Energy Management Act on August 6, adjusting regulations for power-intensive users installing self-use power generation and energy storage equipment. Under the revised provisions, new or expanded power users may choose to install either self-use power generation equipment or energy storage equipment, rather than being required to install both. The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the amendments aim to enhance the resilience of the power system while accommodating the needs of businesses for factory construction and investment.
According to the draft amendment, the original version proposed by the Executive Yuan required power-intensive users with a certain contract capacity to install both self-use power generation and energy storage equipment, without distinguishing between new and existing users. Following the preliminary review by the Economics Committee, the word "and" in Article 10, Paragraph 4 of the Energy Management Act was amended to "or," applying only to new or expanded power users. The Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasized that this change will reduce the investment pressure on businesses and prevent delays in factory construction due to mandatory dual installations.
Renewable Energy Obligations and Industrial Demand Proceed in Parallel
Under the current Renewable Energy Development Act, power-intensive users with a contract capacity of 5 megawatts (MW) or more are required to fulfill a renewable energy obligation equivalent to 10% of their average contract capacity from the previous year within a specified period. Businesses may meet this requirement by installing rooftop solar, energy storage equipment, purchasing green electricity, or acquiring renewable energy certificates. This regulation has also become a critical foundation for businesses aligning with international sustainability initiatives such as RE100.