Policy review of greenhouse gas emission reduction in Taiwan

In 2008, Taiwan government passed a set of rules designed to achieve a sizable reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, namely, "Frameworks of Sustainable Energy Policy". The target of the policy is to keep CO2 emissions during the 2016-2020 periods at the 2008 level, to reduce them to the 2000 level in 2025, and to cut that level in half by 2050. Currently, the acts of "Statute for Renewable Energy Development" and "Energy Management Act (amendment)" is being implemented while those of "Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Act (draft)" and "Regulation for Energy Tax (draft)" is being scheduled for legislative reviewing. These acts deal with GHG emission reduction via various policy instruments such as cap and trade, subsidies, and taxes. The present paper presents a detailed review of the policy progress of GHG emission reduction in Taiwan in addition to the assessment of the outcome of GHG emission reduction in the past decade. It also proposed the priority of policy implementation of GHG emission reduction in the country in the post-Kyoto era.Greenhouse gas (GHG) Renewable energy Policy

Sustainable transport strategy for promoting zero-emission electric scooters in Taiwan

In Taiwan, the government considers the zero-emission scooters to be a sustainable form of transport like walking, cycling and public transport, which play a vital role to support sustainable urban mobility. Therefore, the development of zero-emission scooters is an important strategy in constructing the sustainable transport network of Taiwan. It is also the government's priorities about the policy of emission-reduction and energy-conservation in the transportation sector. Recently, Taiwan launched a new program for subsidy of purchasing zero-emission scooters, which aimed to shift the petroleum-powered scooters to the electric scooters. The present paper is providing an update review of the promotional programs in developing zero-emission scooters in Taiwan. It introduces the status of the establishment and progress of policy, standards, subsidies to users and manufacturers, practice infrastructure, and technology development. Moreover, the contribution of replacing petrol scooters by zero-emission scooters such as battery-powered electric scooters and fuel cell scooters to reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and improvement in energy efficiency is evaluated.Zero emission scooters Greenhouse gas Energy efficiency

Promotional policy for renewable energy development in Taiwan

On June 12, 2009, Taiwan government approved a bill of "Statute for Renewable Energy Development", which aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy, boosting energy diversification, and helping reduce greenhouse gases. The new act caps the subsidies for renewable energy up to 10 GW within 20 years. It authorizes the government to enhance incentives for the development of renewable energy via a variety of methods, including the acquisition mechanisms, incentives for demonstration projects, and the loosening of regulatory restrictions. According to the subsidies of the Statute, the share of power capacity of renewable energies will be triple of the nationwide power installation capacity by 2029. The purpose of this paper is to present an updated overview of promotional policy of renewable energy in Taiwan, in addition to evaluate the growth space of individual renewable energies in the post-Statute era by considering the technology development, domestic conditions, and indigenous industries related to renewable energy.Statute for Renewable Energy Development Bill Installed capacity

Heat Transfer and Friction in a Low-Aspect-Ratio Rectangular Channel with Staggered Slit-Ribbed Walls

Fully developed heat transfer and friction in a rectangular channel with slit-ribbed walls are examined experimentally. The slit ribs are transversely arranged on the bottom and top channel walls in a staggered manner. Effects of rib open-area ratio (β= 24%, 37%, and 46%), rib pitch-to-height ratio (Pi/H=10,15and20), and Reynolds number (10,000≤Re≤50,000) are examined. The rib height-to-channel hydraulic diameter ratio is fixed at H/De=0.081. It is disclosed that the heat transfer coefficient for the slit-ribbed channel is higher than that for the solid-ribbed channel, and increases with rib open-area ratio. Results also show that the friction factor for the slit-ribbed channel is significantly lower than that for the solid-ribbed one. Moreover, the ribs with larger open-area ratios in a higher flow Reynolds number condition could give the better thermal performance under the constant friction power constraint. Roughness functions for friction and heat transfer are further developed in terms of rib and flow parameters

Policy progress in mitigation of climate change in Taiwan

To make an active contribution to the global effort in mitigation of climate change, Taiwan government has implemented the "Frameworks for Sustainable Energy Policy--An Energy-Saving and Carbon-Reduction Action Plan" in June 2008. It has made a commitment of a stepwise reduction of nationwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which returns the nationwide GHG emission to 2008 levels by 2020, then reduces to 2000 levels by 2025, and finally cuts 50% of 2000 levels by 2050. The fundamental strategy is to reduce the GHG emission under acceptable economic development and energy security to achieve generation-spanning triple-win in energy, environment and economy. The major policy instruments such as "Statute for Renewable Energy Development", "GHG Reduction Law (draft)," "Regulation for Energy Tax (draft)," and "Energy Management Act" have been either implemented or scheduled for legislative reviewing. The purpose of this paper is to present an updated review of the outcomes of GHG emission reduction in Taiwan. In addition, the progress and priority of policy instruments in GHG emission reduction are analyzed as well.Sustainable energy Greenhouse gas (GHG) Policy