Acer has been actively investing in renewable energy as part of its ESG initiative, with chairman and CEO Jason Chen explaining his attitude: think of ESG as an opportunity rather than another cost to bear, and you will find business potential. In Acer's case, the company has expertise in battery management for the batteries that all its products use, land to establish solar power projects, and a worldwide network of distribution and repair channels, all of which can help the company carve out its niche in the ongoing ESG trend.
TSMC held the 2023 Supply Chain Management Forum on December 7th and presented the 2023 TSMC Excellent Performance Award. TSMC stated that the global supply chain is facing challenges from social, economic, and geopolitical factors.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) on December 7 held its 2023 Supply Chain Management Forum and presented awards to outstanding supplier partners in gratitude for their support and contributions throughout the past year. The increase in the number of Taiwanese suppliers and more awards given to partners of new fab building services reveals the company's challenge in deploying a new supply chain in Arizona over the past year.
To support more businesses in reaching their net-zero emissions goals, Delta Electronics has set up Delta Energy and recently secured a license for selling renewable energy. Not only is the aim to facilitate green energy transactions through the platform, it's also providing additional services like green energy matching and energy conservation to tap into the growing green finance market.
In a collaborative effort, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (ECCT) have unveiled the ambitious "Paving the Way to Net Zero Power Report." Officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs highlight the invaluable contributions from European partners, bringing fresh net-zero perspectives to Taiwan, spanning technology, policy, and more. With Taiwan's power sector responsible for over 50% of carbon emissions, reducing power-related carbon emissions has emerged as a critical step toward achieving net-zero goals. The report aims to introduce new technologies and foster increased collaboration with ECCT in the coming years.
Poland is expected to play a greater role in driving Central Europe's tech industry forward as Warsaw awaits a new government in December. Donald Tusk. a veteran Polish politician who served as the country's Prime Minister between 2007 and 2014 before serving as President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019, led his party Civic Platform to victory at Poland's national election in October, will return as Prime Minister, forming a government together with two smaller opposition parties in December. According to a source from the Polish political circle, the incoming government will seek to further strengthen Poland's role in the global high-tech value chain, and a subsidy package potentially worth billions is anticipated to attract and consolidate foreign investment in the Polish high-tech industry, especially when it comes to semiconductors.
In the idealistic pursuit of achieving net-zero commitments, developed countries are intensifying their environmental endeavors to decarbonize their economies by exploring low-carbon energy alternatives.
The challenges of geopolitical turmoil made it more difficult to concentrate on climate change issues as the UN COP28 climate talks convened in Dubai. Considering that nearly all crucial component providers of the semiconductor industry are significant energy consumers, discussions at COP28 are anticipated to revolve around reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.
LG Electronics, known for consumer electronics, is expanding its portfolio to include homes. At the 2023 IFA in Berlin, LG unveiled the "LG Smart Cottage," a compact modular dwelling emphasizing high-efficiency energy technologies. After showcasing the concept, LG has established a demonstration site in South Korea, with plans for official sales in South Korea, Europe, North America, and other regions in 2024.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has kicked off critical contracts for the Fengmiao offshore wind farm in Taiwan, following their acquisition of development rights for the round 3.1 wind farm in August. These contracts include the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and the turbine transport and installation, showcasing CIP's determination to connect to the grid by 2027. Additionally, CIP is set to participate in the bidding for round 3.2.
On November 29, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and the French Office in Taipei jointly announced the signing of a Science and Technology Cooperation Convention (STC) between Taiwan and France. During the press conference, NSTC Minister Wu Tsung-Tsong and French Office in Taipei Director Franck Paris revealed the convention's focus on six key areas like semiconductor, quantum and space, signaling a commitment to comprehensively advancing scientific research collaboration between the two countries.
Amidst supply chain restructuring, the US-China tech conflict, and domestic housing policies impacting China's economic landscape, the world's second-largest economy grapples with a subdued real estate market and a lackluster consumer sector. Surprisingly, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) experienced a significant surge on November 27th, reaching its highest level in a year and a half for the third consecutive trading day. Analysts attribute this upward trend to an increased demand for iron ore and larger shipping vessels in the market.
Amid the policy initiative and an investment wave of hydrogen energy, vehicles, and applications in India, Taiwan-based Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing (CHEM) is eyeing huge opportunities in the South Asian market and expecting the hydrogen business to become a new growth driver.
As the consumer electronics market witnesses inertia, companies are looking to non-consumer products for growth opportunities, and among these products are automotive applications. This sector has attracted the attention of Taiwanese OEMs like Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) and Pegatron, alongside ODM Quanta Computer (Quanta). It has become clear that these three companies regard the EV sector as a major growth driver.
Will green investment will pay off over time? In 2023, climate tech start-ups faced a significant funding decline, reaching levels not seen in the past five years. Despite the growing demand for climate technology, equity investment in these start-ups has steadily decreased annually, reflecting challenging conditions within private markets. PwC's State of Climate Tech Report 2023 underscores this trend.
There's no single or simple solution for reaching the targets of decarbonization. During the 2023 Nordic-Taiwan Sustainable Energy Forum, leading experts explored diverse facets of sustainable energy initiatives. The Nordic countries showcased their pioneering efforts in green hydrogen development, offering a blueprint for global sustainable energy development, with Taiwan taking notes for its sustainable future.
Finnish energy firms Holvi Energy and AW-Energy highlighted the pivotal role of ocean energy in Taiwan's pursuit of carbon neutrality during the 2023 Nordic-Taiwan Sustainable Energy Forum. The discussions, led by Vincent Pradier, Representative of Holvi Energy & AW-Energy in Taiwan, delved into the long-term vision required for successful ocean energy projects, emphasizing factors such as regulatory simplicity, economic viability, and collaborative efforts between local and international entities.
Europe will see another battery plant come online in 2026. China-based battery maker Gotion High-tech and Slovak startup InoBat plans to build a battery factory in Slovakia. The facility will initially have an annual production capacity of 20GWh.
Sweden-based battery maker Northvolt announced that it has developed sodium-ion batteries. The cost-effective technology can support deploying energy storage systems (ESS). In addition, China-based BYD plans to invest CNY10 billion (US$1.4 billion) in producing sodium-ion battery systems for micro EVs.
To accelerate the realization of new energy applications and promote Taiwan's new energy transformation, five major domestic industry associations —Taiwan Advanced Automotive Technology Development Association (TADA), Taiwan IoT Technology and Industry Association (TwIoTA), Taiwan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Partnership, Taiwan Battery Association (TBA), and Taiwan Green Energy Association (TGEA)—signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for collaboration on November 22. The signing ceremony, held in the presence of Stan Shih, founder of Acer and honorary chairman of the Major League IoT of the ASVDP (Asia Silicon Valley Development Plan), witnessed industry leaders expressing their aspirations for collaborative efforts.
Volkswagen Group has begun production at its first 100% owned battery plant in China. Volkswagen (Anhui) Components (VWAC) will produce high-voltage battery systems to support the carmaker's battery EVs locally.
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has recently heralded a significant scientific breakthrough led by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) Professor Chen Yu-Bin (Department of Power Mechanical Engineering) and his team. Dubbed "Eco-friendly radiative cooling film and its coating technique", the innovative solution leverages specific infrared wavelengths, allowing heat to penetrate the atmosphere and dissipate into the cold universe without consuming any electricity, significantly reducing energy consumption and cooling costs.
When the most significant climate law in US history, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), turned a year old in August, there was a slew of headlines marking the occasion. By contrast, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), another major Biden administration achievement, had its second birthday slip by more quietly last week.
