Officials acknowledge renewables 'difficulty' at Wind Energy Asia expo

Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) Taiwan faces a "difficulty" in promoting offshore wind power, according to government officials speaking at the opening of the three-day 2025 Wind Energy Asia exhibition in Kaohsiung on Tuesday.

"When people hear about promoting renewable energy, they all say 'great!'" said Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lien Ching-chang (連錦漳). "But when asked whether it would be good to promote it near their homes, they say 'that's not good.'"

"This is a difficulty faced by local governments," Lien continued, adding that he hopes the expo held at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center from Tuesday through Thursday will enable "more communication" on the topic.

Despite this challenge, Taiwan has completed six offshore wind farms and installed 374 wind turbines, the vice minister said, making the country a "global leader" in terms of growth in offshore wind power capacity.

Deputy Secretary-general of Kaohsiung City Government Wang Chi-Chuan (王啓川) also said that Taiwan faces "pressure" in promoting offshore wind power, but such a move is necessary for the country to achieve its net-zero carbon emissions targets.

According to Interplan International Corporation, which organized the expo taking place in the southern Taiwanese city's Cienjhen District, the event has attracted nearly 50 companies from more than 10 countries, including the U.K., Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, the United States and Singapore.

The expo will feature 15 forums from Feb. 25-27 on topics including wind farm operations and maintenance, turbine decommissioning and recycling, and heavy cargo maritime transport, Interplan said.