Following two weeks of heated discussions, the COP29 climate summit concluded with debates over climate financing dominating headlines. However, significant strides were made in energy, with resolutions on hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon trading establishing a framework for global energy transformation.

Following multiple typhoons in 2024, Taiwan faces significant challenges to its power grid. Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) Vice President and CEO Ming-Shu Chen highlighted the increasing unpredictability of climate change's impact on Taiwan, stressing the need to enhance the resilience of power infrastructure and improve cross-agency collaboration to tackle extreme weather events effectively.

The US Department of Commerce announced on November 29, 2024, its preliminary findings in antidumping duty investigations targeting crystalline photovoltaic cells and modules from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Danish officials are pressing Taiwan to accelerate its green energy transition, warning that mounting global competition for renewable resources could threaten the island's ability to meet its 2030 climate goals and maintain industrial competitiveness. Denmark, which became Taiwan's largest foreign investor in 2022 largely due to renewable energy investments, is leveraging its expertise in green technology to help guide Taiwan's path to net-zero emissions. Danish companies have already contributed to more than half of Taiwan's offshore wind capacity.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has marked a watershed moment in Taiwan's renewable energy sector by securing the first corporate power purchase agreement for its Round 3 offshore wind development, signaling the market's transition from government feed-in tariffs to corporate power purchases. Industry sources indicate additional agreements are expected in the coming months.

Wind energy provides advantages over solar power, generating electricity at any time when wind is available. Onshore turbines typically deliver 2.5–3 MW, while offshore turbines range from 3–6 MW, enough to power medium-sized data centers with a few units. Due to considerations around land costs, noise, and aesthetic concerns, turbines are often placed in remote areas with stronger winds and unobstructed airflow, reducing community resistance and boosting efficiency.

Topsil GlobalWafers A/S, a Danish subsidiary of GlobalWafers, is a global leader in Float Zone (FZ) technology, catering primarily to the green energy sector. Recently, the company earned recognition for advancing the semiconductor industry's green transformation, reinforcing its prominent role within the renewable energy ecosystem.

Hotai Motor, Taiwan's automotive leader, projected Taiwan's vehicle market will reach 460,000 units in 2024, up from a prior estimate of 450,000 units, citing steady domestic demand and improved production conditions.

Leading offshore wind turbine component maker Yeong Guan Energy Technology has announced that mass production at its Taichung plant will begin in 2025, while its plant in Thailand will begin trial production in mid-2025. Amid the trend toward supply chain diversification, the company has already received numerous inquiries from European companies about production in its Thailand plant, potentially boosting growth next year.

As Taiwan advances its untapped geothermal potential, experts are turning to Nordic countries for inspiration. At the Nordic-Taiwan Sustainable Energy Forum 2024, industry leaders and policymakers convened to explore how Taiwan could mirror the success of Nordic countries in geothermal development, leveraging its position on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire.

Leader Electronics' subsidiary, Leader New Energy, plans to kick off construction on a 40-megawatt (MW) E-dReg project by late 2024. Meanwhile, a 99.9 MW E-dReg energy storage project has secured approval from Taipower for grid connection review.

LG Group convened a board meeting to finalize senior leadership changes across its subsidiaries. While overall promotions were scaled back, the company emphasized advancing R&D talent and increasing representation among women and younger professionals, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and long-term growth strategies.

Innolux has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from 2020 levels by 2030, aligning with its carbon reduction goals. The company targets achieving a 20% renewable energy usage ratio (RE20) across its Greater China facilities, emphasizing systematic and innovative strategies to boost carbon reduction effectiveness.

Through collaborations with US-based Bloom Energy, Taiwan is accelerating its AI data center development, with power supply emerging as a critical challenge. The government plans to establish an AI data center in Tainan, leveraging hydrogen fuel systems to ensure a stable energy supply amid growing demands.

Following Amazon's recent announcement of its investment in nuclear energy in the US, industry watchers are waiting to see if such investment will expand to other regions.

China's N-type TOPCon solar production is grappling with overcapacity. In October, the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) and 16 tier-1 manufacturers agreed to a minimum price threshold for solar module quotes. Non-compliance could lead to penalties enforced via whistleblowing mechanisms reminiscent of historical grassroots reporting systems.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of global offshore wind energy, China has emerged as the undisputed frontrunner, while India is just beginning to explore this sector. Industry experts from Rystad Energy and S&P Global offer insights into the different paths taken by these two Asian giants in the offshore wind market.

It has been almost a month since China's solar industry set a floor price in order to curb cut-throat competition among its members, but some opportunists are taking advantage of loopholes to circumvent the restrictions, according to industry sources.

China's Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration has announced significant changes to its export tax rebate policy, effective December 1. The new policy eliminates rebates for 59 products and reduces the rebate rate from 13% to 9% for 209 items, including refined oil, solar panels, lithium batteries, and modules, vanadium redox flow batteries, and certain non-metallic mineral products. This 4% reduction represents an approximate 30% decrease in rebates.

Taiwan's largest industrial gas manufacturer, Linde LienHwa, is shifting its focus from decades of industrial hydrogen applications to the transportation sector. The company aims to lead Taiwan's hydrogen vehicle market once its dedicated hydrogen manufacturing plant in southern Taiwan becomes operational in 2025.

Trade disputes between the EU and China, especially in the solar and automotive sectors, underscore the intricate nature of global trade. Chinese manufacturers have shown resilience and adaptability, often finding ways around regulatory hurdles.

Three Chinese solar companies were found to have evaded taxes on approximately INR220 billion (US$2.64 billion) of profits earned from INR450 billion worth of solar product sales in India over the past decade.

CATL's chairman and CEO Robin Zeng has expressed willingness to build a factory in the US if President-Elect Donald Trump is willing to open the door for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) investments. This strategic shift comes as Chinese manufacturers face mounting pressure from Trump's tariffs on EV and lithium battery imports.

TSMC inaugurated its zero-waste manufacturing center in Taichung on November 13, while signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to develop advanced carbon capture technology.

Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) Group is expanding its renewable energy presence through a recent stock subscription agreement with Anneal Energy, securing a 45% stake and becoming the largest institutional shareholder. This move aligns with adjustments to Taiwan's Electricity Act, which now allows Type III solar power plants—those with less than 2,000 kilowatts in capacity—to sell green energy to renewable trading companies for corporate use.