February 2026
An Overview of Recent Amendments to the “Three Solar PV Acts” (Taiwan)
In response to the increasingly severe challenges in the global energy landscape, the government has been proactively advancing renewable energy as the central pillar of its energy transition policy, with solar photovoltaic (PV) power constituting a key component of renewable energy development. In 2016, the Bureau of Energy of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (“MOEA”) (now reorganized as the Energy Administration) issued the “2016 Energy Industry Technology White Paper”, setting out Taiwan’s medium- to long-term energy policy direction. The White Paper established a target for renewable energy to account for 20% of total power generation by 2025, with a corresponding solar PV installed capacity of 20 GW
[1]
. In line with the foregoing policy direction, the Executive Yuan launched the “Two-Year Solar PV Promotion Plan” in 2016, aiming to achieve a cumulative installed solar PV capacity of 1.52 GW by 2018. Following the attainment of this short-term target, the Executive Yuan further introduced the “6.5 GW Solar PV Achievement Plan for 2020” in 2019 to accelerate solar PV deployment
[2]
. However, due to delays arising from controversies associated with the development of ground-mounted solar PV projects—particularly issues relating to environmental ecology, public consultation, and land use—the MOEA announced in October 2024 that the target of achieving 20 GW of installed solar PV capacity would be postponed to 2026
[3]
[4]
.
During the period in July 2025 when Typhoon Danas struck Taiwan, strong winds and heavy rainfall caused damage to certain ground-mounted and floating solar PV facilities. In particular, the damage sustained by floating solar PV installations located in detention ponds in Chiayi attracted significant public attention [5] . These incidents heightened concerns over the suitability of site selection for solar PV projects and their potential environmental risks. They also became important background factors for subsequent reviews and legislative amendments relating to solar PV development [6] .
Prior to 2025, there were no explicit regulatory requirements mandating that solar PV power generation systems undergo an environmental impact assessment (the “EIA”) prior to installation. It was not until January 16, 2025, when the Ministry of Environment amended and promulgated the Standards for Determining Specific Items and Scope of Environmental Impact Assessment for Development Activities (the “EIA Determination Standards”), that Article 29, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 7, was added to require EIAs for the installation of solar PV power generation systems in designated areas [7] .
Notwithstanding the foregoing amendments, concerns remained that the revised EIA Determination Standards were insufficient to adequately address the environmental risks arising from solar PV development in environmentally sensitive areas. Accordingly, on November 14, 2025, the Legislative Yuan passed, upon third reading, amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, the Tourism Development Act, and the Geology Act (collectively, the “Three Solar PV Acts”). These amendments were promulgated by the President on November 28, 2025 and came into force on December 1, 2025. The key points of the amendments to the Three Solar PV Acts are summarized as follows:
I. Areas Where the Installation of Solar PV Power Generation Systems Is Prohibited
Except for rooftop solar PV systems, or solar PV systems with an installed area of 100 square meters or less for self-use, ground-mounted or floating solar PV power generation systems with an installed or cumulatively installed area exceeding one hectare may not be installed in national scenic areas, designated geological heritage–related geological sensitive areas, or landslide and slope failure geological sensitive areas (Article 11, Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Tourism Development Act; Article 5, Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Geology Act).
II. Solar PV Power Generation Systems Installed in Designated Areas Must Conduct an EIA
1. National scenic areas, designated geological heritage–related geological sensitive areas, or landslide and slope failure geological sensitive areas (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act);
2. Wildlife protection areas or important wildlife habitats (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 2);
3. Important wetlands (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 3);
4. Nature reserves announced under the Taiwan Coastal Area Natural Environment Protection Plan (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 4);
5. Agricultural land in designated agricultural zones (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 5);
6. Land subsidized or incentivized by the government for afforestation, where such land is state-owned, publicly owned, or owned by state-run or public enterprises (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 6);
7. Hillside land (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 7), where:
III. Aggregation of Installed Area for Solar PV Power Generation Systems
For the hillside, floating, and large-scale solar PV power generation systems described in Section II, Items 7 through 9 above, where the land applied for installation or cumulatively installed land falls under any of the following circumstances, the areas shall be aggregated (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 10 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act):
IV. The requirement to conduct an EIA for solar PV power generation systems installed in designated areas does not apply to rooftop solar PV systems. It also does not apply to solar PV systems that constitute ancillary facilities of other development activities and have been confirmed as such by the competent authorities, or to solar PV systems with an installed area of 100 square meters or less for self-use (Article 5, Paragraph 4 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act).
A comparison between the amended EIA Determination Standards promulgated by the Ministry of Environment and the amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act passed by the Legislative Yuan indicates that the primary difference lies in the elevation of EIA thresholds from subordinate regulations to the statutory level, accompanied by stricter requirements relating to both installation area and installed capacity. For solar PV systems installed on hillside land, the EIA threshold was significantly lowered from an installation area of 15 hectares or an installed capacity of 20,000 kW to an installation area of 5 hectares or an installed capacity of 10,000 kW. In addition, floating solar PV systems are now subject to EIA requirements once the installation area reaches 5 hectares or the installed capacity reaches 10,000 kW. Ground-mounted solar PV systems, regardless of location, must also conduct an EIA once the installation area reaches 40 hectares or the installed capacity reaches 40,000 kW. These changes substantially raise the development threshold for solar PV projects and further constrain the scope of permissible development.
Overall, the amendments to the Three Solar PV Acts will not only affect Taiwan’s existing energy policies, but also create uncertainty in the application of laws and review timelines for solar PV project applications that have already been accepted by the competent authorities but have not yet completed the review process. In addition, many large enterprises in Taiwan have actively pursued net-zero transformation and joined the RE100 initiative, committing to achieving 100% renewable energy use across global operations by 2040 [8] . The heightened regulatory thresholds introduced by these amendments are therefore expected to affect the pace of domestic green power development and the feasibility for enterprises to secure green electricity.
We will continue to monitor subsequent developments in relevant laws and regulations and provide timely updates and professional advice to assist clients in addressing the challenges and opportunities arising from these regulatory changes.
[1] Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs. (2016). 2016 Energy Industry Technology White Paper, p4.
[2] Key Policy: Full-Scale Promotion of Solar Photovoltaic Power. (October 29, 2019). Executive Yuan. https://www.ey.gov.tw/Page/5A8A0CB5B41DA11E/4413b416-5f1e-419b-9a39-5a02c8a3ba8c (Last accessed: January 14, 2026)
[3] Tseng, Chih-Yi. (October 16, 2024). Delays in Ground-Mounted Solar PV Projects Weigh on the 20 GW Target; Ministry of Economic Affairs: Target Deferred to 2026. CNA. https://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/202410160179.aspx (Last accessed: January 16, 2026).
[4] MOEA. (October 16, 2024). Special Report to the Economic Committee of the Legislative Yuan (11th Legislative Yuan, 2nd Session): “Current Status of Implementation and Future Planning of Taiwan’s Power Generation Mix,” pp. 1–2.
[5] Sun, Wen-Lin. (December 3, 2025). Where Did the 100,000 Solar Panels Blown Away by Typhoon Danas Go? An On-the-Ground Look at the Challenges of Disposal and Cleanup of Decommissioned Solar Panels. The Reporter. https://www.twreporter.org/a/after-typhoon-danas-the-recycling-of-solar-photovoltaic-panels (Last accessed: January 14, 2026)
[6] Post-Disaster Transportation and Disposal of Solar PV Panels. (n.d.). Ministry of Environment. https://www.moenv.gov.tw/affairs/issues/solar-panel-cleanup/3681.html (Last accessed: January 14, 2026)
[7] Article 29, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 7 of the Standards for Determining Specific Items and Scope of Environmental Impact Assessment for Development Activities provides:
“Installation of a photovoltaic power generation system (exclusive of installation on the roof, or the ancillary facilities in another development project as confirmed by various industry competent authorities) which meets one of the following conditions:
A. The site is located in a national park.
B. The site is located in a wildlife refuge or a major wildlife habitat.
C. The site is located in an important wetland.
D. The site is located in a nature preserve approved and announced under the Taiwan Coastal Area Natural Environment Protection Plan.
E. The site is located on agricultural land in a special agricultural zone.
F. The site is located on subsidized land authorized by government or land on which forest culture is encouraged which is national land, public land, state-owned enterprise land or public enterprise land, unless with the approval from the energy competent authority.
G. The site is located on a slopeland with the installed or cumulative installed capacity attaining 20 MW or greater, or installed or cumulative installed dimension attaining 15 hectares or greater.
H. Where the application for installation of a photovoltaic power generation system on a slopeland meets one of the following conditions, the requested installed or cumulative installed dimension shall be combined for calculation, and the scale required in the preceding item shall be achieved:
1. Application for installation or cumulative installation of the land under the same land number.
2. Application for installation or cumulative installation of the land under the adjacent land number, or separation only by public facilities, such as roads, channels and drainage canals.
3. Application for installation or cumulative installation of the land with the horizontal distance between the boundaries less than 20 meters.”
[8] RE100 Members. (n.d.). Climate Group RE100. https://www.there100.org/re100-members (Last accessed: January 9, 2026)
During the period in July 2025 when Typhoon Danas struck Taiwan, strong winds and heavy rainfall caused damage to certain ground-mounted and floating solar PV facilities. In particular, the damage sustained by floating solar PV installations located in detention ponds in Chiayi attracted significant public attention [5] . These incidents heightened concerns over the suitability of site selection for solar PV projects and their potential environmental risks. They also became important background factors for subsequent reviews and legislative amendments relating to solar PV development [6] .
Prior to 2025, there were no explicit regulatory requirements mandating that solar PV power generation systems undergo an environmental impact assessment (the “EIA”) prior to installation. It was not until January 16, 2025, when the Ministry of Environment amended and promulgated the Standards for Determining Specific Items and Scope of Environmental Impact Assessment for Development Activities (the “EIA Determination Standards”), that Article 29, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 7, was added to require EIAs for the installation of solar PV power generation systems in designated areas [7] .
Notwithstanding the foregoing amendments, concerns remained that the revised EIA Determination Standards were insufficient to adequately address the environmental risks arising from solar PV development in environmentally sensitive areas. Accordingly, on November 14, 2025, the Legislative Yuan passed, upon third reading, amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, the Tourism Development Act, and the Geology Act (collectively, the “Three Solar PV Acts”). These amendments were promulgated by the President on November 28, 2025 and came into force on December 1, 2025. The key points of the amendments to the Three Solar PV Acts are summarized as follows:
I. Areas Where the Installation of Solar PV Power Generation Systems Is Prohibited
Except for rooftop solar PV systems, or solar PV systems with an installed area of 100 square meters or less for self-use, ground-mounted or floating solar PV power generation systems with an installed or cumulatively installed area exceeding one hectare may not be installed in national scenic areas, designated geological heritage–related geological sensitive areas, or landslide and slope failure geological sensitive areas (Article 11, Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Tourism Development Act; Article 5, Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Geology Act).
II. Solar PV Power Generation Systems Installed in Designated Areas Must Conduct an EIA
1. National scenic areas, designated geological heritage–related geological sensitive areas, or landslide and slope failure geological sensitive areas (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act);
2. Wildlife protection areas or important wildlife habitats (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 2);
3. Important wetlands (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 3);
4. Nature reserves announced under the Taiwan Coastal Area Natural Environment Protection Plan (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 4);
5. Agricultural land in designated agricultural zones (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 5);
6. Land subsidized or incentivized by the government for afforestation, where such land is state-owned, publicly owned, or owned by state-run or public enterprises (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 6);
7. Hillside land (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 7), where:
- the installed or cumulatively installed capacity reaches 10,000 kW or more; or
- the installed or cumulatively installed area reaches 5 hectares or more;
- the installed or cumulatively installed capacity reaches 10,000 kW or more; or
- the installed or cumulatively installed area reaches 5 hectares or more;
- the installed or cumulatively installed capacity reaches 40,000 kW or more; or
- the installed or cumulatively installed area reaches 40 hectares or more.
III. Aggregation of Installed Area for Solar PV Power Generation Systems
For the hillside, floating, and large-scale solar PV power generation systems described in Section II, Items 7 through 9 above, where the land applied for installation or cumulatively installed land falls under any of the following circumstances, the areas shall be aggregated (Article 5, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 10 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act):
- the land parcels share the same cadastral number;
- the parcels are adjacent to each other or separated only by public facilities such as roads, channels, or drainage facilities; or
- the horizontal distance between the boundaries of the land parcels is within 20 meters.
IV. The requirement to conduct an EIA for solar PV power generation systems installed in designated areas does not apply to rooftop solar PV systems. It also does not apply to solar PV systems that constitute ancillary facilities of other development activities and have been confirmed as such by the competent authorities, or to solar PV systems with an installed area of 100 square meters or less for self-use (Article 5, Paragraph 4 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act).
A comparison between the amended EIA Determination Standards promulgated by the Ministry of Environment and the amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act passed by the Legislative Yuan indicates that the primary difference lies in the elevation of EIA thresholds from subordinate regulations to the statutory level, accompanied by stricter requirements relating to both installation area and installed capacity. For solar PV systems installed on hillside land, the EIA threshold was significantly lowered from an installation area of 15 hectares or an installed capacity of 20,000 kW to an installation area of 5 hectares or an installed capacity of 10,000 kW. In addition, floating solar PV systems are now subject to EIA requirements once the installation area reaches 5 hectares or the installed capacity reaches 10,000 kW. Ground-mounted solar PV systems, regardless of location, must also conduct an EIA once the installation area reaches 40 hectares or the installed capacity reaches 40,000 kW. These changes substantially raise the development threshold for solar PV projects and further constrain the scope of permissible development.
Overall, the amendments to the Three Solar PV Acts will not only affect Taiwan’s existing energy policies, but also create uncertainty in the application of laws and review timelines for solar PV project applications that have already been accepted by the competent authorities but have not yet completed the review process. In addition, many large enterprises in Taiwan have actively pursued net-zero transformation and joined the RE100 initiative, committing to achieving 100% renewable energy use across global operations by 2040 [8] . The heightened regulatory thresholds introduced by these amendments are therefore expected to affect the pace of domestic green power development and the feasibility for enterprises to secure green electricity.
We will continue to monitor subsequent developments in relevant laws and regulations and provide timely updates and professional advice to assist clients in addressing the challenges and opportunities arising from these regulatory changes.
[1] Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs. (2016). 2016 Energy Industry Technology White Paper, p4.
[2] Key Policy: Full-Scale Promotion of Solar Photovoltaic Power. (October 29, 2019). Executive Yuan. https://www.ey.gov.tw/Page/5A8A0CB5B41DA11E/4413b416-5f1e-419b-9a39-5a02c8a3ba8c (Last accessed: January 14, 2026)
[3] Tseng, Chih-Yi. (October 16, 2024). Delays in Ground-Mounted Solar PV Projects Weigh on the 20 GW Target; Ministry of Economic Affairs: Target Deferred to 2026. CNA. https://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/202410160179.aspx (Last accessed: January 16, 2026).
[4] MOEA. (October 16, 2024). Special Report to the Economic Committee of the Legislative Yuan (11th Legislative Yuan, 2nd Session): “Current Status of Implementation and Future Planning of Taiwan’s Power Generation Mix,” pp. 1–2.
[5] Sun, Wen-Lin. (December 3, 2025). Where Did the 100,000 Solar Panels Blown Away by Typhoon Danas Go? An On-the-Ground Look at the Challenges of Disposal and Cleanup of Decommissioned Solar Panels. The Reporter. https://www.twreporter.org/a/after-typhoon-danas-the-recycling-of-solar-photovoltaic-panels (Last accessed: January 14, 2026)
[6] Post-Disaster Transportation and Disposal of Solar PV Panels. (n.d.). Ministry of Environment. https://www.moenv.gov.tw/affairs/issues/solar-panel-cleanup/3681.html (Last accessed: January 14, 2026)
[7] Article 29, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 7 of the Standards for Determining Specific Items and Scope of Environmental Impact Assessment for Development Activities provides:
“Installation of a photovoltaic power generation system (exclusive of installation on the roof, or the ancillary facilities in another development project as confirmed by various industry competent authorities) which meets one of the following conditions:
A. The site is located in a national park.
B. The site is located in a wildlife refuge or a major wildlife habitat.
C. The site is located in an important wetland.
D. The site is located in a nature preserve approved and announced under the Taiwan Coastal Area Natural Environment Protection Plan.
E. The site is located on agricultural land in a special agricultural zone.
F. The site is located on subsidized land authorized by government or land on which forest culture is encouraged which is national land, public land, state-owned enterprise land or public enterprise land, unless with the approval from the energy competent authority.
G. The site is located on a slopeland with the installed or cumulative installed capacity attaining 20 MW or greater, or installed or cumulative installed dimension attaining 15 hectares or greater.
H. Where the application for installation of a photovoltaic power generation system on a slopeland meets one of the following conditions, the requested installed or cumulative installed dimension shall be combined for calculation, and the scale required in the preceding item shall be achieved:
1. Application for installation or cumulative installation of the land under the same land number.
2. Application for installation or cumulative installation of the land under the adjacent land number, or separation only by public facilities, such as roads, channels and drainage canals.
3. Application for installation or cumulative installation of the land with the horizontal distance between the boundaries less than 20 meters.”
[8] RE100 Members. (n.d.). Climate Group RE100. https://www.there100.org/re100-members (Last accessed: January 9, 2026)
