Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance
台灣再生能源推動聯盟
The Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance (TRENA) was established in 2014 as a non-governmental organization composed of professionals from various sectors, including NGOs, academia, green energy enterprises, and think tanks. At that time, the government's energy policy was primarily focused on nuclear power, which limited the development of renewable energy. Additionally, public support and consensus for renewable energy were relatively weak, with many fearing that transitioning to renewable energy could lead to power shortages.
Against this backdrop, TRENA's members were inspired by Germany's successful development of renewable energy, particularly the country's clear policies, enhanced energy efficiency, and strong societal consensus. Despite having less favorable natural resources than Taiwan, Germany had already achieved a 27% share of renewable energy in its electricity mix. This realization prompted participants to recognize the need for a dedicated NGO in Taiwan to promote renewable energy development, leading to the formation of TRENA.
TRENA's mission is to ""establish a supportive environment for the development of renewable energy in Taiwan."" Its specific tasks include providing a platform for public education on renewable energy, advocating for government policies and regulations that support renewable energy development, promoting renewable energy education in Taiwan, and actively initiating various civic actions to support the growth of renewable energy. Through these efforts, TRENA aims not only to drive Taiwan's energy transition but also to enhance societal awareness and support for renewable energy, ultimately creating a greener, more sustainable, and energy-independent future for Taiwan.
The policy series forums have been ongoing for several years, beginning in 2016. The Alliance aims to gather insights and address the challenges facing renewable energy by inviting professionals from various fields and encouraging community participation to listen to and collect diverse opinions.
The Alliance has consistently emphasized that the process of energy transition and the use of renewable energy must involve interaction with local communities. After two years of building momentum, in 2017, the Alliance initiated a collaboration that brought together developers, equipment suppliers, Indigenous tribes, and Zhuo Mama Stray Dog Shelter to promote green energy and education. This effort has continued to this day."
Given the widespread rumors, superstitions, and fake news about green energy in society, the alliance has initiated a fact-checking project on green energy misinformation. They have invited experts and practitioners from various fields to share their insights and have written articles based on these facts for the public to access and clarify."
The Major Electricity Consumers Clause was deliberated in 2020 and came into effect on January 1, 2021. However, there has been no significant enforcement by the government. In 2023, a private sector initiative conducted the first audit of the electricity usage of major consumers across Taiwan. The audit revealed the green energy usage of the top 30 electricity consumers in Taiwan and called on both the government and major electricity consumers to take this social responsibility seriously.
The Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance held a press conference on energy democracy at the Legislative Yuan in 2015, ahead of the national energy conference, to advocate for energy democracy. The Alliance urged the government to stop implementing centralized, monopolistic, and opaque policies that hinder the development of renewable energy. The annual national energy conference has largely become a formality, failing to effectively communicate or incorporate local voices and the opinions of ordinary citizens. Renewable energy emphasizes community and local participation, and the Alliance called for the government to make energy information transparent, implement mechanisms for citizen participation, dismantle illegal policies that obstruct development, and establish a supportive environment for renewable energy. The Alliance continues to monitor the government and responds to various current issues by holding corresponding press conferences.
