In 2025, the Republic of China (Taiwan) depends heavily on fossil fuels for its electricity, with more than 80% of its supply coming from such sources. Gas is the leading contributor among these, providing close to half of the electricity, followed by coal, which adds slightly over one-third. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources make up a minor 15% of the electricity profile. Within this clean energy category, solar power is the largest contributor, supplying over 5%, followed by wind and hydropower at around 4% and 3%, respectively. Nuclear energy, which holds tremendous potential for sustainable and reliable electricity, disappointingly contributes a mere 1%, a reflection of the significant untapped potential in Taiwan's energy portfolio.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, IEA and 能源統計專區. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Republic of China (Taiwan)?
Electricity consumption per person is slightly on the rise in Taiwan, as seen from the latest data showing 12,484 kWh per person in 2025, up by 44 kWh from the record high in 2024. However, this overall increase in electricity consumption has not been met with a similar rise in low-carbon electricity usage, which stands at 1,908 kWh per person. Astonishingly, this figure represents a decrease of 470 kWh per person compared to its peak in 2013. This disparity underscores an urgent need for Taiwan to pivot towards more sustainable and clean electricity sources to safeguard its energy future and to contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change and air pollution.
Suggestions
To move towards a more sustainable electricity mix, Taiwan can draw lessons from successful regions worldwide that have significantly integrated low-carbon sources into their electricity generation mix. Countries like France and Slovakia have achieved high percentages of low-carbon energy through nuclear power, reaching 67% and 66%, respectively. Meanwhile, Denmark and certain states in the U.S., such as Iowa and South Dakota, have harnessed the power of wind at over 50%. Taiwan should emulate these models by investing more in nuclear energy, given its potential to provide vast amounts of reliable and sustainable electricity. Concurrently, expanding solar energy capacity, as demonstrated by regions like Nevada and California, which generate over 30% of their electricity from solar, could substantially enhance Taiwan's clean energy contributions. These advancements are crucial in meeting the growing electricity demands inherent to technological progress and electrification.
History
Historical data reveals a fluctuating trend in Taiwan's low-carbon electricity generation, often hindered by a troubling inconsistency, particularly in nuclear energy production. In the early 1980s, Taiwan saw a steady rise in nuclear generation, but recent decades have been marked by frequent declines. Significant reductions were observed from 2015 to 2025, underscoring an urgent need for Taiwan to reaffirm its commitment to nuclear power as part of building a resilient low-carbon energy grid. In the meantime, isolated sparks of advancement, like the notable 4.3 TWh increase in wind power in 2024, must be encouraged and expanded. Taiwan's electricity sector stands to gain immensely from sustained commitment to nuclear and solar power, ensuring a future-proof, sustainable energy landscape.
