Deputy MOEA Minister Tseng Wen-sheng (fourth right) joins other participants in giving the thumbs-up at the 2023 Taiwan International Geothermal Conference Jan. 9 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of MOEA)
 

The 2023 Taiwan International Geothermal Conference was staged Jan. 9 in Taipei City, spotlighting government efforts to develop the potential-laden energy source, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Held in a hybrid in-person and online format, the daylong event featured 11 speakers from Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden and the U.S. who brought participants up to speed on the latest developments in the emerging sector. More than 30 overseas firms and 400 academics, experts and officials took part.

During his opening remarks, Deputy Economic Minister Tseng Wen-sheng said Taiwan’s pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050 was officially announced in 2022 along with 12 key strategies to integrate cross-ministerial resources to reach the policy goal.

The event serves as a great opportunity for local businesses to share the latest technologies and expand exchanges with global counterparts to fast-track development of geothermal energy, which is set to play a major role as Taiwan transitions to green power sources, he added.

Highlights of the conference included a presentation of related government incentive programs and regulation amendments, in-depth introductions of 10 potential geothermal energy hot spots and experience sharing, according to the MOEA. (SFC-E)