On May 6th 2022, Vice Premier SHEN Jong-chin of the Executive Yuan, accompanied by several relevant government agency representatives, visited the demonstration base of smart fishery and electricity symbiosis system and digital twin fishery technology jointly established by J&V Energy and Taiyen Green Energy in 2020, which is located in Sanliaowan, Beimen District, Tainan. The purpose of Vice Premier's field visit to this demonstration base is to accelerate the implementation of fishery and electricity symbiosis policy, and achieve Taiwan's energy transition targets by promoting the deployment of Solar Photovoltaic (PV); secondly, it is expected that the success of this project will assist in transforming the aquaculture industry and enhance its competitiveness.
Vice Premier SHEN stated that the implementation of fishery and electricity symbiosis policy followed the spirit of "based on fishery, value-added through green energy," with maintaining and integrating farming production as the guiding principle. In particular, the promotion of solar PV also helps to introduce AIoT technology into aquacultural practices. Secondly, the government has stipulated a series of codes and regulations to ensure the rights of original tenant farmers and fishermen. Moreover, the central government will continue to acknowledge local fishermen's viewpoints and expectations, and collaborate with various central and local agencies to promote the fishery and electricity symbiosis policy.
The topic of energy transition has become a global phenomenon, Taiwan government has also announced its pathway to 2050 net-zero carbon emissions recently, which includes focusing on renewable energy deployment and raising the competitiveness of our country and industries in the international community. Specifically, the main focus of Taiwan's energy transition is the deployment of solar PV. The promotion of solar PV is categorized into two types: rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV systems. While the development of rooftop solar PV systems continues, the development of ground-mounted solar PV is focusing on multi-purpose land utilizations, prioritizing areas with social consensus and no ecological concerns. The promotion of ground-mounted solar PV includes the fishery and electricity symbiosis project with a policy target of 4.4GW total installed capacity.
To achieve the target, Taiwan government has proactively surveyed and planned special zones that are designated for fishery and electricity symbiosis deployment. The announced special zones in Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung amount to a total of 12,533 hectares (HA). This project has been executed by multiple government agencies; in particular, Council of Agriculture (COA) has been investigating fish ponds that have no ecological concerns; Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has carried out environmental and social inspections; Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is in charge of reviewing the management plan of Coastal Conservation Zones; and Taiwan Power Company (TPC) is tasked with infrastructure-building of the power grid. This exemplary case shows government's commitment to balancing the aquaculture industry, environmental and ecological concerns, and renewable energy developments.
The current demonstration base is a joint venture between J&V Energy Technology and Taiyen Green Energy with technical assistance from Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry. With a total area of 390 square meters, this facility adoptes an in-door design for fishery farming, with solar PV panels totaling a capacity of 179.8kW installed on rooftop. Currently, its annual power production is at 286,705 kWh, which is better than previously estimated. Over a 20 years period, this facility can generate a total of 4,300,000 kWh of clean energy, preventing an estimated total of 218.5 metric ton of carbon emissions as the result of the clean solar energy produced. According to a study by COA's Fisheries Research Institute, the average yield of an indoor facility with automated equipment is four times of the yield of traditional outdoor fish farming. This shows that solar PV does bring value-added to aquaculture, and fishery and electricity symbiosis truly materialized the economic benefits of "fishery for electricity; electricity for fishery."
Finally, MOEA stresses the importance of the fishery and electricity symbiosis project, which is the top priority in the government's renewable energy development. In addition to surveying and planning of special zones, the government is also working on the standardization of administrative procedures, regularly hosting training and education sessions, establishing working groups and joint review meeting with local agencies, and providing financial loan support. These efforts provide solar PV operators guidance on the administrative procedures and accelerate solar deployment. Through private enterprises' supports and interests in energy transition, the fishery and electricity symbiosis project will advance the fishery industry with the latest smart aquacultural technology, providing fishermen stable incomes, and facilitating economic prosperity, and creating new employment opportunities for traditional local fishing villages.
Spokesperson for Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs: Deputy Director-General, Chun-Li Lee
Phone: 02-2775-7700
Mobile: 0936-250-838
Email: cllee@moea.gov.tw
Business Contact: Director, Wen-Hsin Lin
Phone: 02-2775-7716
Mobile: 0912-578-534
Email: whlin@moea.gov.tw