An assessment of exploiting renewable energy sources with concerns of policy and technology

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 38; no. 8; pp. 4604 - 4616
• Main Authors: Shen, Yung-Chi, Lin, Grace T.R., Li, Kuang-Pin, Yuan, Benjamin J.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2010; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Series: Energy Policy
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Applied sciences; Assessments; Economic data; Economics; Energy; Energy economics; Energy planning; Energy policy; Energy prospects; Energy resources; Exact sciences and technology; Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process; Fuzzy sets; General, economic and professional studies; Governments; Meetings; Methodology. Modelling; Natural energy; Objectives; Policies; Renewable energy; Renewable energy policy; Renewable energy Renewable energy policy Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process; Renewable energy sources; Renewable resources; Resource exploitation; Studies; Taiwan; Taiwan; Renewable energy; Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process; Renewable energy policy; Energy source; Energy policy; Analytic hierarchy process
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2010.04.016

In recent years, the Taiwanese government has vigorously promoted the development of renewable energy to engage the challenges of gradual depletion of fossil fuels and oil, as well as the intensification of the greenhouse effect. Since the Sustainable Energy Policy Principles were announced in 2008, Taiwanese government has declared that the development of renewable energy should take into account goals that pertain to energy, the environment, and the economy (3E goals). This study aims to assess the 3E goals and renewable energy sources regulated by the Renewable Energy Development Bill that passed in 2009. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is used to resolve the multi-goal problem for achieving our research purposes. That is, this research attempts to reveal the suitable renewable energy sources for the purposes of meeting the 3E policy goals. The results first show that environmental goal is the most important to the development of various renewable energy technologies in Taiwan, followed by the economic and energy goals. Additionally, hydropower, solar energy, and wind energy would be the renewable energy sources utilized in meeting the 3E policy goals.