2024 New Energy and Agriculture Carbon Reduction Dialogue: Cross-Sector Collaboration Supporting Taiwan's Net-Zero Transition

The 2024 New Energy and Agriculture Carbon Reduction Dialogue, organized by EnergyOMNI and the ECCT,
invites experts from various fields to share insights and foster strategic exchanges to advance the transition to net-zero emissions.
(From left) Ian Hughes, Chief Operating Officer of Subsea Division at OEG Renewables ｜
Deborah Chiang, Energy Transition & Sustainability Team Director, ECCT-LCI｜Xin-En Wu, Founder, EnergyOMNI｜
Chung-Hsien Chen, Director at Renewable and Prospective Energy Development Division Director of Energy Administration, MOEA｜
Giuseppe Izzo, the Chairman of the ECCT｜Ji-Xu Dong, Chairman of SunRise E&T Corporation｜
Fernando Mariano Schmidt Hernández, Director of Chilean Trade Office｜Ing-Sheng Tsay, Director of Renewable Energy Division at Taipower｜
James Wu, Senior Advisor of Japan Interconnector｜Luuk F. van Heerde, Director of Green Flash｜
Claire Lai, Regional Marketing Director of Asia, Baseload Capital

The development of emerging energy technologies, particularly geothermal and offshore solar, has become a focal point of public interest. In recent times, the potential for advancements in wind farm operations and maintenance, transnational submarine cables, and the application of biofuels and bioenergy has also gained attention. Amidst the drive for decarbonization within the industry, it is crucial to address the economic pressures faced by the agriculture and fishery sectors in reducing carbon emissions. On November 14, the "2024 New Energy and Agriculture Carbon Reduction Dialogue," co-organized by EnergyOMNI and the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT), brought together experts from diverse fields to foster strategic exchanges promoting a net-zero transition.

In the opening remarks, Xin-En Wu, Founder of EnergyOMNI, emphasized that since its inception in 2022, EnergyOMNI has been dedicated to promoting energy transition and cross-sector collaboration, aspiring to serve as a key force driving industry efforts toward net-zero goals. Wu extended special thanks to the Energy Administration, Taipower, ECCT, and other partner organizations for their support, and highlighted the necessity of cross-sector cooperation and the integration of innovative technologies to achieve sustainable development in Taiwan's journey towards net-zero.

Giuseppe Izzo, Chairman of ECCT, remarked that while ECCT members are actively advancing wind energy development in Taiwan, their focus also extends to other renewable energy sectors such as geothermal and waste-to-energy conversion. Izzo pointed out that carbon reduction and environmental resilience in the agriculture and fishery sectors demand greater technical support, which is a crucial aspect of driving Taiwan's energy transition.

The co-organizer, ESG Energized Alliance, was established with the mission of achieving equitable and just net-zero transformation through data-driven cross-sector initiatives. Yun-Chiao Hsieh, Chairperson of the ESG Energized Alliance, mentioned a recent survey conducted by the Alliance involving over 300 farmers' associations on carbon reduction policies. She emphasized that the issue of carbon reduction requires cross-sector cooperation to contribute to Taiwan's sustainable development.

Robert Tseng, Chairman of CDWE and the National Marine Engineering Association, expressed CDWE's commitment to becoming a pillar for renewable energy and contributing to Taiwan's sustainable net-zero future.

The morning sessions focused on the field of new energy. Chung-Hsien Chen, Director of the Renewable and Prospective Energy Development Division at the Energy Administration, MOEA, addressed challenges in energy technology, such as independent power grids and carbon storage development in Taiwan. He noted that large corporations have proposed dividing underground spaces into different storage facilities for carbon sequestration, a practice that requires regulatory support. Taiwan's geothermal energy strategy will proceed from shallow (hydrothermal) to deep (enhanced geothermal systems) development.

Ing-Sheng Tsay, Director of the Renewable Energy Division at Taiwan Power Company, highlighted the changes in electricity usage patterns and the challenges to peak demand and grid stability. He pointed out that green energy can help alleviate supply pressure and discussed the potential of citizen power plants operating symbiotically with local communities and the environment.

Ian Hughes, Chief Operating Officer of the Subsea Division at OEG Renewables, emphasized the need for developing local partnerships to support the operations and maintenance of offshore wind energy in the Asia-Pacific region. Such collaborations can reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and provide flexible operations to meet the long-term demands of the renewable energy sector.

Ji-Xu Dong, Chairman of SunRise E&T Corporation, a leading supplier of floating solar platforms worldwide, discussed the dual-use of wind energy and aquaculture systems, utilizing AI technology for aquaculture. He highlighted the integration of marine-based hybrid applications as a future trend.

James Wu, Senior Advisor for Japan Interconnector (Taiwan Region), expressed optimism about the development of submarine cables. As renewable energy installations, such as wind and solar, increase their capacity, issues related to excess electricity and curtailment become more pressing. He stressed the importance of proactive planning to leverage excess power and create new commercial value through international energy transmission via submarine cables.

Claire Lai, Regional Marketing Director for Asia at Baseload Capital, noted that the initial drilling phase in geothermal development entails the highest costs and risks. Engaging with local communities during the development process is essential to ensure mutual benefit and address community needs.

The afternoon sessions focused on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and carbon reduction in agriculture.
(From left) Robert Tseng, Chairman of CDWE and NMEA｜Marian Chiang, Senior Vice President & Executive Assistant to President, FCF Co, Ltd｜Wen Huang, Director of Renewable and Sustainability Advisory at NIRAS｜Jim Tai, General Manager of REMONDIS Taiwan｜
Luuk F. van Heerde, Director of Green Flash｜Yun-Chiao Hsieh, Chairperson of ESG Energized Alliance｜
Xin-En Wu, Founder, EnergyOMNI｜Yu-Nung Chen, Director of PEIMU Agriculture Product Marketing

The afternoon sessions focused on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and carbon reduction in agriculture. Wen Huang, Director of Renewable and Sustainability Advisory at NIRAS, discussed biodiversity offset initiatives and urged the government to strengthen fiscal strategies for biodiversity conservation, supporting local sustainable development.

Yu-Nung Chen, Director of PEIMU Agriculture Product Marketing, emphasized that farmers face limitations in carbon reduction due to a lack of funds and technology. He called for enhanced agricultural carbon reduction technology development and collaboration with industry to help farmers achieve carbon reduction goals while addressing climate change.

Marian Chiang, Senior Vice President & Executive Assistant to the President of FCF Co., Ltd., shared how the company implements sustainable fisheries through supply chain management and electronic monitoring systems. She underscored the need for a coordinated effort across the entire fisheries sector to achieve carbon reduction goals, expressing a desire to collaborate with more partners.

Luuk F. van Heerde, Director of Green Flash, stressed the importance of furthering the application of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region. He noted that Taiwan has yet to fully realize the potential of this energy source and called for stronger policy support to foster the growth of the biofuel market.

Jim Tai, General Manager of REMONDIS Taiwan, pointed out that Taiwan's strong agricultural, forestry, fishery, and livestock foundation presents vast potential for bioenergy development. Compared to Europe, Taiwan's biomass energy plants offer greater competitive advantages.

The forum offered an in-depth and comprehensive discussion. The event venue, chosen for its historical significance, symbolizes EnergyOMNI's continued dedication to fostering dialogue on diverse topics, contributing to Taiwan's energy transition and carbon reduction goals.