Taiwan’s Growing AI Energy Demand Fuels Nuclear Power Debate
Taiwan's energy demands are likely to increase by as much as 12-13% come 2030, primarily due to the thriving AI sector, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
This boom is expected to place a huge burden on the island's power infrastructure, especially from the anticipated demand from the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which is projected to use as much power as about a quarter of Taiwan's 23 million people by 2030.
The island's fast-growing energy appetite makes the achievement of net-zero emissions by 2050 a complicated task. The renewable energy capacity of Taiwan currently is approximately 12% of the total energy, but the government plans to increase it to 60-70% by 2030.
The increasing energy demand from sectors such as AI and semiconductor production pose a complicated challenge to the country's energy strategy.
Nuclear Power Supporters Demand Extension
In response to these issues, supporters of nuclear energy in Taiwan are pushing anew for its utilization as a solution to the energy crisis, as reported by Al Jazeera. Taiwan's legislature recently approved an amendment that permits the nation's nuclear power plants to seek license renewals beyond the current 40-year threshold.
The move has ignited a controversial debate, with nuclear supporters arguing that nuclear energy would assist Taiwan in meeting its industrial requirements and supporting green goals.
The amendment was adopted by the votes of the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party amid opposition from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has long been an advocate for a "nuclear-free homeland" policy.
The amendment will not, however, halt the scheduled shutdown of Taiwan's sole remaining operating reactor. the No. 2 reactor at the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant, which is scheduled to close. In spite of this, the policy change has raised some doubts about Taiwan's dedication to a nuclear-free future.
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Environmental and Safety Concerns
According to Al Jazeera, critics of nuclear energy in Taiwan, such as Greenpeace and climate specialists, say that it has serious safety, environmental, and economic risks, particularly considering the island's susceptibility to earthquakes and tsunamis.
They also caution that investing in outdated nuclear facilities may draw away resources from renewable energy, stalling Taiwan's green transformation. Taiwan's energy controversy underscores the heavy power consumption of the semiconductor sector, with green activists calling on companies such as TSMC to commit to clean energy over dependence on state-subsidized infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Japan's renewed interest in nuclear power is feeding debate in Taiwan, with supporters seeing it as an option for power requirements and climate change mitigation.
