On August 7, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and Kaohsiung City Government co-hosted the "2026 Energy Transition Integrity and Transparency Summit" to strengthen integrity safeguards and enhance information transparency in the process of energy transition. MOEA Vice Minister Chien-hsin Lai attended the summit, underscoring the shared commitment of central and local government to strengthening safeguards for green energy development.
Vice Minister Lai noted that in the AI era, electricity is computing power; a sufficient supply of green energy will provide strong impetus for the low-carbon transition. Because green energy development involves a wide range of regulatory and public-engagement issues, integrity and transparency are indispensable cornerstones. Since its establishment in May 2025, the "Cross-Sector Integrity Platform for Solar Energy" has actively brought together the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office and the Agency Against Corruption, Ministry of Justice. The platform helps clarify regulatory uncertainties early in the process, prevent inadvertent legal violations by public servants, encourage officials to take initiative within the law, and reduce opportunities for misconduct through institutional safeguards, thereby fostering a clean and fair environment for the green energy industry.
According to the Energy Administration, MOEA, clear nationwide review criteria and effective regulatory harmonization are essential to creating a predictable investment environment. To this end, the Executive Yuan conducts in-depth interministerial consultations, with new rules implemented only after interagency consensus has been reached. Aquavoltaics, for example, requires close coordination across electricity regulation, agriculture, building administration, and land-use management. The integrity platform therefore provides a mechanism for standardizing review criteria, coordinating with local governments, and developing clear standards informed by practical implementation experience to support local-level reviews.
To improve public understanding, the Energy Administration stressed that the Solar PV Transparency and Collaboration Action Platform has added three categories of publicly available information to reduce information asymmetry and address public concerns:
First, greater transparency of geospatial information: Residents can readily see how solar PV has been deployed in their area. The platform publishes geospatial data for Type III solar PV projects of 500 kW or above. Through a geographic information system (GIS), users can view projects under construction or already completed and overlay maps of cadastral, aquavoltaics, and other data layers, improving information transparency while supporting more effective disaster preparedness.
Second, greater transparency on community rights and interests: The platform safeguards local residents' right to know. Since 2024, developers have been required to hold public information sessions before applying for an electricity-enterprise building permit. To ensure that local residents have adequate access to relevant information, the platform consolidates Environmental and Social Review (ESR) information and publishes construction briefing materials, E&S self-assessment forms, and response measures for public access.
Third, greater factual transparency: A dedicated information section addresses issues that are often misunderstood, using scientific evidence and real-world data to resolve public concerns. This includes evidence showing, for example, that floating PV does not adversely affect water quality. During Typhoon Danas, the damage rate for livestock and poultry buildings equipped with PV systems was just 0.1%, compared with 16% for those without PV installations.
Vice Minister Lai emphasized that issues raised by industry representatives and local governments at the forum would continue to be followed up through the integrity platform meetings. The Fisheries Agency and Energy Administration will also be tasked with enhancing review process efficiency. In addition, the Diversified Green Energy Awards, to be presented at this year's Energy Taiwan, will recognize outstanding industry professionals and showcase exemplary demonstration projects, helping successful practices gain wider adoption across the sector.
In response to the wide-ranging challenges of the energy transition, the forum brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Justice, Kaohsiung City Government, China Steel Corporation (CSC), and Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) for cross-sector dialogue. Over its first year of operation, the "Cross-Sector Integrity Platform for Solar Energy" has produced tangible results in effectively preventing fraud and corruption, standardizing review criteria, and addressing public concerns through the transparent disclosure of empirical data.
MOEA hopes the event will further strengthen collaboration on integrity, information transparency, and cross-sector governance. Going forward, it will continue to broadly gather feedback from judicial authorities, local governments, businesses, and state-owned enterprises to foster an energy-transition environment defined by integrity, transparency, and efficient governance, and to work together toward a fair, transparent, and sustainable energy future.
Spokesperson:
Deputy Director General Chen, Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Tel: +886-2-2775-7700 / +886-919-998-339
Business Contact:
Director Yen, Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Tel: +886-2-2775-7620