TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Construction on a solar “citizen power plant” jointly funded by residents and the government began in Penghu on Wednesday (Oct. 30).
Residents of the outlying islands’ Nanliao Village established the project under a scheme developed by the economic ministry to promote solar power at the local level. Penghu leaders, central government officials, and residents attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant, per CNA.
At the ceremony, Penghu Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu (陳光復) said he expects the islands to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035. He said the citizen power plant and Penghu’s existing wind power, solar power, and carbon sequestration projects will make the locality a world leader for its population size.
Planning for the plant was initiated by former Nanliao Borough Chief Chao Chia-hsieh (趙嘉協), who serves as chair of the company created for the project. More than NT$5 million (US$156,138) was invested by 15 community members to install solar panels on three buildings.

Electricity generated from solar panels will be sold to the Taiwan Power Company and corporate users. It is expected the project will have an installed capacity of 62.3 kilowatts when complete.
Citizen power plants can be organized in different ways but must be funded by residents’ investment and meet sustainability criteria, according to the economic ministry. The ministry created the scheme in 2020 as an expansion of policies to promote solar power established in 2013.
The scheme provides subsidies for community groups at the planning and construction stages of solar power projects. Profits made by the power plants are returned to residents or used for public services and welfare.