• In the first nine months of 2019, Taiwan installed 1.34 GW of new solar PV capacity according to the country’s Ministry of Economic Affairs as reported by local media
  • The region that contributed maximum to this number is Tainan that deployed 320 MW capacity followed by Changhua County adding 263 MW and Pingtung with 195 MW, among others
  • This means 51.7% more solar power was generated in the country on annual basis in the first 10 months as it produced 3,418 GWh

During the first nine months of 2019, Taiwan installed 1.34 GW of new solar PV capacity, reflecting an annual increase of 27.9%, according to the country’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA). Reporting this data, Taipei Times said this increase in solar power capacity helped this technology to generate 51.7% more power in Taiwan between January 2019 to October 2019.

Overall, solar PV systems produced a total of 3,418 GWh power accounting for 26.3% of total renewable energy generation during the period, and making up 1.47% of overall electricity generation in the country. Solar PV power generation was next only to hydropower that represented 39.3% of total renewable energy generation with 5,117 GWh.

Renewable energy generation of 13,006 GWh between the first 10 months of the year 2019 made up 5.6% of total electricity generation during the period.

The ministry data shows that Tainan deployed 320 MW solar during these period, along with Changhua County adding 263 MW, followed by Pingtung adding 195 MW, Yunlin 180 MW and Chiayi 122 MW. Kaohsiung and Taoyuan added 83 MW and 31 MW each.

According to EnergyTrend, Taiwan crossed 1 GW of installed PV capacity in 2018 for the first time and that it sees 1.5 GW more to be added in 2019 (see Taiwan Solar Capacity Exceeded 1 GW In 2018). But with 1.34 GW already installed in the first nine months of 2019, Taiwan seems likely to exceed EnergyTrend’s forecast.