Digitimes Research: Battery technologies regain focus as energy storage demand rises

May 13, 14:15

Demand for energy storage continues to rise and lithium-ion batteries are a common choice. However, due to prices, safety and energy storage, many substitutes such as lithium-sulfur and sodium-sulfur batteries have been surfacing. In addition, US-based GF has been promoting sodium-nickel halide batt...

OCI cancels polysilicon supply contracts with Suntech

Apr 30, 10:39

South Korea-based solar material provider OCI has terminated two supply contracts with China-based Wuxi Suntech Power and one supply contract with Suntech International. OCI noted that the contract termination was based on Wuxi Suntech's insolvency and restructuring plan disclosed on March 20, 2013...

Commentary: Foxconn can focus on solar end market applications

Apr 22, 16:19

Terry Guo, chairman of Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), has mentioned that the firm wants to produce different kinds of solar products. Market observers believe Foxconn has strength in manufacturing, hence should focus on solar applications for the end market.

Digitimes Research: China 2013 rare earth mining targeted at 46,900 tons

Mar 29, 10:54

To prevent an oversupply of rare earth materials, China's 2013 rare earth mining target is only half that of 2012, at 46,900 tons. China's export quota has been around 30,000 tons since 2010 and the actual export volume has been lower due to falling demand from major customers in countries such as...

Digitimes Research: South Korea sets 2013 new solar installation target at 230MW

Mar 19, 11:17

In the beginning of 2012, the South Korea government adopted the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) policy. Due to falling prices of related equipment, firms have been participating eagerly. South Korea-based industry sources estimate that the PV system installation goal of 220MW was 70% achieved.

Government will abolish Nuke 4 project if experts label it unsafe, says Taiwan Premier Jiang

Mar 18, 15:10

Approximately 200,000 people joined Taiwan's anti-nuclear protest on March 9, 2013. Some statistics showed that 50-60% of people surveyed were against using nuclear power to generate electricity. According to Premier Jiang Yi-huah of the Executive Yuan, if experts conclude that operating the fourth...

Commentary: Nuclear dispute creates opportunity for LED lighting firms

Mar 12, 14:02

Whether Taiwan needs another nuclear power plant has been under heated debate. As more people question the safety of a new nuclear power plant that is being constructed, LED firms should seize the opportunity to promote the energy-saving feature of LED lighting and raise awareness among consumers to...

Gigastorage hopes Taiwan government to increase annual solar installation limit

Mar 8, 10:59

The necessity of having nuclear power plants has been under debate recently in Taiwan. Taiwan-based solar wafer maker Gigastorage has suggested four ways that the government can take to address the country's energy issues: increase solar installation capacity, amend laws regarding the electricity industry,...

LED lighting can save 12.78% energy used in Taiwan

Feb 27, 15:54

If LED lighting is fully adopted in Taiwan, the country can reduce its electricity consumption by 12.78%, an equivalent to the combined capacity of two of its existing nuclear power plants, according to industry observers.

Philips green product revenues reach 45% of total 2012 sales

Feb 26, 14:49

Royal Philips Electronics has reported Green Product sales of EUR11.3 billion (US$14.76 billion) in 2012, marking 45% of total sales as the firm moves closer to its EcoVision sustainability performance targets of 2015. Healthcare drove the highest Green Product nominal sales growth with 36%.

Commentary: Does Taiwan need another nuclear power plant?

Feb 26, 11:52

Taiwan is building its fourth nuclear power plant. The main island of Taiwan is only 36,193 square kilometers and already houses three nuclear power plants - two of them in New Taipei City in northern Taiwan and one located in Pintung County in the south. Now, the government is eager to begin operating...

E-Ton Power Tech shuts down operations, says report

Newswatch - Feb 8, 10:30

Taiwan-based electrical motorcycle producer E-Ton Power Tech shut down its factory without warning on February 7, 2013 due to failed negotiations between the employer and employees on year-end bonuses, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.

Digitimes Research: Used automobile lithium batteries could store renewable energy

Jan 24, 14:54

US-based automobile maker GM has been conducting R&D with professionals in different industries on the possibility of storing energy on used automobile lithium batteries.

Taiwan market: MOEA subsidies help sales of energy-saving home appliances

Jan 18, 15:29

Due to oil and electricity price hikes, the second wave of energy-saving home appliance subsidies introduced by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in 2012 showed positive effects.

Digitimes Research: New bio-technology helps to expand natural gas resources

Dec 7, 14:47

Due to the discovery of new reserves, the amount of natural gas in the US has increased rapidly, pushing the price to a historical low. Nevertheless, at the same time, the price of natural gas in Asia continues to be high. Bio-technological breakthroughs which can turn coal into natural gas is allowing...

Taiwan-based motor maker Kuo Shuay obtains UL certification for motor efficiency lab

Nov 9, 15:37

Taiwan-based motor maker Kuo Shuay Industrial has obtained certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and became the fifth firm in the world to obtain certification for its motor efficiency laboratory.

Taiwan market: Natural gas price frozen to end of 2012

Oct 23, 14:27

The Economic Affairs Committee of the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan reached a consensus on October 22, 2012 to hold the price of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from now to the end of 2012.

UL provides Japan S Mark certification testing in Taiwan

Oct 22, 14:46

The government in Japan has been encouraging domestic home appliance firms to produce products that can save energy. Products that fit the requirements of Japan's safety measure, S Mark, can be subsidized by the government. This has been stimulating the growth of the battery industry. International...

Taiwan government to offer NT$10 billion loans to support green-energy industry

Sep 25, 12:21

Taiwan government's National Development Fund (NDF) will offer 15-year loans totaling NT$10 billion (US$338 million) to finance exports of green-energy products, including solar, wind, LED lighting, biomass and electric vehicles, and related production equipment by Taiwan-based makers. The current...

Delaying electricity price hikes may curb green energy development, says Executive Yuan Minister

Sep 21, 11:25

The Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan has announced a temporary halt to the planned second wave of increases in electricity prices. Industrial firms will save around 10% of their electricity costs thanks to the postponement. However, according to Cyrus CY Chu, Minister of the National Science...

Taiwan government delays power price hike

Sep 18, 13:59

Taiwan's government has decided to delay a planned electricity rate hike originally set to take place on December 10, 2012 until October 1, 2013.

Onshore wind converter market to encounter turbulence, says IMS Research

Sep 10, 10:27

In the global market for wind converters, nearly 80% of revenues in 2011 were attributed to utility-scale onshore projects, but are forecast to account for less than 70% of the total market by 2016 due to an expected decline in the US wind market and the growth of the offshore wind industry, according...

Taiwan market: Government plans to provide NT$10 billion subsidy for green energy industry

Aug 27, 15:39

The Taiwan government plans to set up a fund of NT$10 billion (US$333 million) to save the green energy industry which has been suffering from market downturns. However, the fund needs to be approved by the National Development Fund under the Executive Yuan. Also, key to the plans are local banks because...

Taiwan to explore undersea natural gas

Aug 16, 14:13

The National Science Council in Taiwan has indicated that the government should develop low-carbon emission energy sources and reduce reliance on imported energy. The Council has announced a decision to begin an exploration to locate undersea natural gas.

Taiwan plans tidal wave installations of 30MW

Aug 10, 14:57

Taiwan's National Science Council has been planning to install 30MW of tidal wave systems using the Kuroshio Current to generate power within four years.

Commentary: India marks 1GW solar milestone with power outage

Aug 3, 15:50

For a country to begin and maintain industrialization, infrastructures such as railroad systems, highways, bridges, ports, buildings, roads, and most important of all, electricity, are necessary. India, one of the world's largest emerging countries has been growing at an average rate of 7.37% (from...

Digitimes Research: Australia solar market to boom in 2012 as carbon tax system takes effect

Jul 19, 12:30

Australia is an ideal location to develop solar PV systems due to the abundance of sunshine hours. Since 2008, various states in Australia have been providing high feed-in-tariff (FIT) rates as subsidies, and a rebate program provided by the central government has been promoting the development of...

ITRI, Taiwan battery firms jointly showcase STOBA lithium batteries in Japan

Jul 13, 14:11

To support Taiwan-based battery firms entering international markets, the Taiwan-based Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has set up a Self Terminated Olygomers with hyper-branched Architecture (STOBA) exhibition area at the 2012 Techno-Frontier Show with firms such as E-One Moli Energy,...

Commentary: Poland has potential to build a strong renewable energy sector

Jun 14, 15:45

Compared to countries in the same region, Poland seems promising. From the printed version of The Economist on June 9, Poland's latest GDP was 3.5%. This relatively high GDP only falls behind countries such as Russia, Turkey and Norway and it does not fall far behind. Nevertheless, the country...

Commentary: US, China renewable energy trade war continues

Jun 1, 11:29

Following the announcement of anti-dumping duties on China-made solar cells that range from 31-250% by the US Department of Commerce, more anti-subsidy duties have been levied on China-made wind towers. The anti-subsidy duties for China-based wind tower makers range from 13.7-26%, according to a May...

Second phase of energy-saving consumer electronics subsidies to begin at May 17, says MOEA

May 16, 16:47

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has announced a second phase of subsidies for consumer electronics, with a total budget of NT$700 million (US$23.7 million), that will last three months starting May 17 to August 16, 2012. The subsidies are mainly for energy-saving consumer electronics such...

DelSolar debuts on TSE

May 10, 12:14

DelSolar, the solar subsidiary of Delta Electronics, debuted on Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) with IPO of NT$14.7 (US$0.50) on May 9, 2012.

Topper Sun debuts iPV tracker

May 10, 12:12

Topper Sun Energy Technology, a Taiwan-based maker of solar modules/systems and provider of integration services for solar PV installations, unveiled an in-house-developed smart sun tracker on May 9, 2012. The firm claimed that the "iPV" tracker can increase solar PV system power-generating...