MOEA releases renewable energy target

Chen said that although the development of renewable energy faces various challenges, such as high production costs and technological difficulties, the new policy will help Taiwan realize its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the ratio of domestically-produced energy.

The policy could also revitalize unplanted farmland and boost the development of the biomass energy industry, Chen said.

Public buses in southern Kaohsiung City have started using biodiesel, and the government will select two more counties or cities in June to expand and promote the use of biodiesel, he said.

By 2008, all diesel sold on the market will be a blend containing 1 percent of biomass diesel, with the content of biomass diesel expected to increase to 3 percent by 2010, he said.

The minister made the remarks during a conference on the development of renewable energy held by National Central University’s Research Center for Taiwan’s Economic Development, the Grace T.H.W Group, and an economics association.

Sharing the experience of Brazil during the conference, Brazilian parliamentarian Luiss Piauhylino de Mello Monteiro said Brazil started to experiment with blending gasoline and ethanol in 1925, with the government offering incentives such as tax cuts and production loans.

According to Piauhylino, Brazil is now the world’s largest producer and exporter of cane-based ethanol, the world’s largest consumer of fuel ethanol and the world’s third largest consumer of cane sugar.

Every year, Brazil produces 15 billion liters of ethanol, exports 19.6 million tons of cane sugar and 3.1 billion liters of ethanol, which generates 12 billion reais (US$5.66 billion) in annual revenue for the country, he said.

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