Taiwan's rooftops are fertile ground for solar

Wedoany.com Report-Feb 26, Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior has introduced a draft regulation mandating solar installations on new buildings and renovations larger than 1,000 square meters, with some exceptions. Public feedback is welcome until April 22.

This proposal supports Taiwan’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050, as outlined by the government. It requires buildings meeting the size criterion to install at least 1 kW of solar capacity for every 20 square meters. Panels can be mounted on rooftops, awnings, or ground areas to fulfill this obligation.

Unlike earlier drafts that used rooftop area for calculations, the current version relies on a building’s first-floor area, broadening the policy’s reach, according to the Taiwanese government. Exemptions apply to religious and funeral buildings, structures handling hazardous materials, those with limited sunlight, and cases with documented special circumstances. Annual power generation must meet regional minimums, ranging from 543 kWh to 625 kWh, based on local solar conditions.

Non-compliance would block the issuance of construction and occupancy permits, the government noted. The Ministry of the Interior will assess comments for 60 days before finalizing the regulation, with the Executive Yuan setting the implementation timeline thereafter.

In December 2024, Taiwan rolled out a $126 million rebate initiative for small rooftop solar systems, providing up to TWD 300,000 ($9,150) per project for units up to 3 kW. This effort targets equipping 120,000 households with solar power between 2025 and 2028.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs plans to add 8.2 GW of solar and offshore wind capacity by the end of 2026, contributing to a broader goal of 20 GW of solar by that year. Feed-in tariffs for small solar systems will remain in place to encourage growth, the ministry confirmed.

“The shift to first-floor area calculations reflects a practical adjustment to ensure more buildings contribute to our renewable energy goals,” a government spokesperson said. The Ministry of Economic Affairs also intends to sustain feed-in tariffs for solar systems up to 10 kW at TWD 5.7055/kWh to bolster future installations.

The draft regulation and supporting programs aim to expand Taiwan’s renewable energy capacity while maintaining clear, enforceable standards for new construction and retrofits across the region.