Solar-powered fish farm to be built in Taiwan

Lightsource bp detailed their first venture into aquaculture in a project co-developed with Green Rock Energy. The company facilitates development and management in solar energy projects and will be making its first step in East Asia.

The decision to move into the Taiwanese market comes after Lightsource bp secured US$1.5 billion credit last year, to fund its strategy of developing 25GW of solar by 2025. The funding has been provided by 10 global financial institutions and will be helping to accelerate the development of solar across the EMEA, Americas and APAC regions.      

The 150MW project in question will be one of the largest solar fish farms in Taiwan and will be creating 750 employment opportunities during construction, anticipated to start in June, 2023. After construction is complete, the project will be producing 210,000MWh of renewable electricity a year, saving 133,770 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per annum.

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Nick Boyle Group CEO Lightsource bp mentioned the "interesting opportunities" available for solar in Asia.

"Taiwan relies on imports for about 95 percent of its energy which leaves its energy supply vulnerable to external disruption," he explains. "This energy challenge, coupled with the need for sustainably generated electricity makes Taiwan a unique project and we're thrilled to draw on our global experience and work with Green Rock Energy to step up to the challenge."

The project has been designed to benefit the local environment and community as the company have engaged with environmental specialists and local fishermen throughout. This has include allowing fishermen to farm around 200 ponds and adding saltwater ponds to optimise the water management process for the farmers.

Eugene Chien, Ambassador-at-large of Taiwan and Chairman of Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy says, "In the process of promoting Taiwan to achieve its net-zero emission goal, the industrial chain, public and private sectors, and the public need to join hands to jointly promote the comprehensive transformation of energy, industry, life and society. Among them, the solar energy industry plays a key role in Taiwan's energy transition process."

"It is great to see world-class solar companies like Lightsource bp join the ranks of Taiwan's energy transition and work together to achieve the goal of 20GW of solar energy installations by 2025," he adds.

For more information on Lightsource bp visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Green Rock Energy visit their website, HERE.