Deutsche Welle (DW) recently reported on Taiwan’s latest referendum regarding the extension of operations at the Third Nuclear Power Plant, which failed to reach the required threshold. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Bureau of Energy, Taiwan currently relies on imports for approximately 96% of its energy, with maritime transport as the primary channel.
Pro-nuclear advocates argue that despite nuclear energy contributing only about 4.2% of Taiwan’s electricity supply in 2024, eliminating it entirely could pose serious risks. They warn that in the event of a Chinese military blockade, Taiwan’s energy supply could be abruptly cut off.
Addressing these concerns, DSET Energy Resilience Program Director, Dr. Tsai-Ying Lu, told DW that the wartime risks associated with nuclear power plants are often underestimated. Citing the example of Ukraine, she noted that its nuclear plants faced temporary shutdowns or disconnections due to transmission line damage and safety concerns following Russia’s invasion.
Dr. Lu emphasized the importance of diversifying Taiwan’s energy portfolio by scaling up renewable energy and storage systems, while ensuring flexibility in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal imports. “It is essential to establish mechanisms that allow suppliers to maintain flexible deliveries. Even under conditions of blockade or isolation, merchant vessels must still be incentivized to operate in the Taiwan Strait despite higher risks,” she explained.
The DW report also highlighted how Europe’s stance on nuclear energy has become a subject of public debate. In 2022, the European Union classified nuclear energy as an “environmentally sustainable” option, provided that radioactive waste is properly managed. In contrast, Germany officially phased out nuclear power in 2023 by shutting down its last three reactors.
Taiwan’s energy mix today remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with over 80% of electricity generated from natural gas and coal. Renewables have grown modestly in recent years, reaching 12% in 2024, but still fall short of the government’s 2025 target of 20%.
Commenting on Taiwan’s energy transition, Dr. Lu noted that natural gas, rather than nuclear, is a more suitable “bridging role” to expand renewables. She explained that renewable power output is highly variable, while natural gas plants provide crucial flexibility to stabilize the grid: “Gas-fired plants can rapidly adjust frequency and stabilize supply — a function that nuclear plants cannot provide.”
Separately, the Taiwan Environmental Information Center reported that voter turnout for the nuclear referendum stood at around 30%, the lowest since Taiwan amended its Referendum Act in 2017. Dr. Lu told the outlet that this referendum marked a new phase in Taiwan’s public debate on nuclear power, moving beyond the earlier “Nuclear for Green” and “Restart Nuclear Four” campaigns.
She added that Taiwan’s society is now more focused on nuclear energy’s role in supporting high-tech industries and on the debate about nuclear power’s potential role in wartime scenarios. However, she cautioned that if such discussions remain confined to polarized referendum campaigns, Taiwan may struggle to build a mature and lasting social consensus on its energy future.