Taiwan’s new legislations pass amendments to various acts that will make environmental clearance for solar projects more stringent
Solar PV installations ≥10 MW or using ≥5 hectares on sensitive terrain will now require environmental impact assessments
Large PV projects will be barred from scenic, heritage, and geographically sensitive areas
Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to 3 acts that will bring in stringent environmental regulations for solar PV installations. This will have ramifications for both ground-mounted and floating PV projects.
The amendments have been incorporated in the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, the Tourism Development Act, and the Geology Act. According to local media reports, these changes follow Typhoon Danas in July 2025, which damaged a floating solar system and followed a call for stricter clearance criteria for solar facilities.
Under the new rules, solar PV projects with 10 MW or higher installed capacity or those covering a cumulative area of 5 hectares or higher on hilly terrain or water bodies must undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Projects with at least 40 MW capacity, or those covering 40 hectares or more, will also need to meet the same requirement.
Such projects will not be able to access scenic spots, heritage sites, and geographically sensitive zones. Rooftop solar projects or those for self-consumption that cover less than 1-hectare space and clear their EIAs will not be impacted.
Nevertheless, the Ministry of Economic Affairs reportedly regrets the decisions that it believes will severely impact solar PV manufacturers and installations, while delaying green electricity access to industries.
Environmental groups have also expressed their disappointment. Citizen of the Earth released a statement saying that amending the acts without discussion can turn PV into a political tool. Such changes must be attempted by first revising subsidiary laws instead of revising overarching acts.