In response to global climate change, extreme weather, and the rising demand for electricity driven by the rapid development of AI and digital technologies, the "2026 APEC ESCI Awards and Workshop on Promoting Good Practices and Recognizing Excellence in Energy Solutions," hosted by the Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), takes place from October 20 to 21 at the Grand Victoria Hotel in Taipei. The two-day international event bring together representatives from government, industry, academia, research institutions, and panel members across multiple APEC economies-including the United States, Japan, Thailand and Viet Nam-to witness the award ceremony of the 7th APEC Energy Smart Communities Initiative (ESCI) Best Practices Awards and engage in exchanges on energy smart development and innovative practices in the Asia-Pacific region.
In the opening remarks, Vice Minister of Ministry of Economic Affairs Dr. LAI Chien-Hsin stated that the global energy environment is currently undergoing dramatic changes. In addition to continuously advancing low-carbon development, energy transition must simultaneously ensure energy security, system resilience, and economic development. This year's APEC Energy Ministers' Meeting also reaffirmed the vital importance of regional cooperation and energy security. Chinese Taipei has long actively participated in APEC energy cooperation, promoting cross-economy exchanges by maintaining the ESCI Knowledge Sharing Platform (ESCI-KSP) and organizing selection activities to translate great ideas into practice across cities, industries, and communities. The Energy Administration noted that this year's edition attracted 74 innovative entries competing together, fully demonstrating the rich practical experience of the Asia-Pacific region across aspects such as Smart Transport, Smart Buildings, Smart Grids, Smart Jobs & Consumers, and Low Carbon Model Towns. Dr. Lai expressed hope that case sharing and cross-domain exchanges will inspire and create further opportunities for cooperation among economies in promoting energy transition.
The event kicked off with the 7th ESCI Best Practices Award Ceremony, inviting winning teams to deliver insightful practical presentations covering key ESCI pillar areas. Among them, Chinese Taipei's winning projects this year included the "Print 30: Integrated Smart Low-Energy Buildings and Low-Carbon Manufacturing -A Scalable and Replicable SME Model for Industrial Decarbonization" by NTI PRINTING Co., Ltd. and the "Innovative Communication and Seed Training Mechanism for Energy Transition Policies" by the Taiwan Research Institute, demonstrating Chinese Taipei's practical achievements across diverse dimensions including energy innovation, low-carbon transition, and social communication.
The workshop featured presentations by domestic and international experts and was chaired by Dr. Cary BLOYD, Chair of the Judging Panel and former Senior Advisor at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) of the U.S. Department of Energy. On October 20, representatives from APEC economies shared their experiences and achievements, including Ms. Ariadne BENAISSA, Deputy Director of Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); Ms. Yuna NATSUMI, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Division of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan; Dr. Chien-Pang LIU, Deputy Director-General of the Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government; and Mr. Wisaruth MAETHASITH, Professional Level Engineer of the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency of the Ministry of Energy, Thailand. Through policy innovation, smart technologies, and cross-sectoral integration, the presentations demonstrated how energy smart community concepts can be translated into practical, implementable, and replicable actions.
On October 21, experts from international organizations will focus on regional progress and developments. Mr. Julen IMANA SOBRINO, Expert of Green Digital Transformation of Local Governments for Sustainability Europe (ICLEI), will share European perspectives on local energy transition. Dr. Kazutomo IRIE, Chair & President of the Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC), will present achievements in low-carbon energy community development across the APEC region, while Dr. Chi-Wen LIAO, Chair of the APEC Expert Group on New and Renewable Energy Technologies (EGNRET), will introduce the current development and future directions of new and renewable energy technologies in APEC.
Chinese Taipei has actively promoted deep energy saving, technology-based energy storage, and power grid resilience in recent years, utilizing digital technology to enhance energy efficiency and power system dispatch efficiency. The workshop not only showcases Chinese Taipei's proactive contributions to energy intelligence and sustainable transition in the Asia-Pacific region, but also provides a platform for closer international cooperation. Looking ahead, Chinese Taipei will continue to deepen partnerships with APEC economies, promote the exchange of best practices and knowledge sharing through the ESCI-KSP platform, facilitate the implementation of more innovative energy solutions across the Asia-Pacific region, and jointly build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable energy future for the region.
Spokesperson:
Deputy Director General Chen, Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Tel: +886-2-2775-7700 / +886-919-998-339
Business Contact:
Director Liao, Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Tel: +886-2-2775-7710