[Energy Doppelganger Taiwan Visit] (Part 1) "Taiwan's Energy Transition Catastrophic Failure... Korea Should Not Abandon Nuclear Power"

Chen Yuanjun, Attorney at Pamir Law Office

Lawyer Tian Yunjun of Pamir Law Office is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 20th in downtown Taipei, Taiwan. Photo by Kang Heejong

"The energy transition of the Taiwan government is a ‘catastrophic failure’."

On the 20th of last month, at the Pamir Law Office in Taipei, Taiwan, lawyer Chen Yuanjun (photo) strongly criticized Taiwan’s energy transition policy, which is moving towards nuclear phase-out.

After obtaining a U.S. lawyer license and working in corporate consulting, lawyer Chen Yuanjun emphasized that securing carbon-free energy is key to meeting the rapidly increasing electricity demand in the AI era, and that focus should be placed on developing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) rather than renewable energy. He is also deeply interested in environmental issues and participates in various activities, including involvement with the Taipei Green Consumer Foundation.

Regarding Taiwan’s energy policy, Chen Yuanjun asserted, "It is failing to supply sufficient energy needed by current and future societies." He pointed out, "Only up to 7% of the electricity supplied through the current power grid comes from carbon-free sources such as renewable energy and nuclear power," and "93% of energy depends on imported fossil fuels."

In particular, he criticized Taiwan’s nuclear phase-out policy, saying, "They are trying to eliminate reliable energy sources without alternatives for carbon-free energy," and added, "Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the most expensive fossil fuel, and Taiwan lacks sufficient facilities to transport, unload, and store LNG."

He was also skeptical about the government’s expansion of renewable energy such as solar and offshore wind power. He evaluated that Taiwan’s land area is not sufficiently large and that the wind is strong only in winter, making it difficult to secure the stability of renewable energy. Chen Yuanjun even dismissed Taiwan’s energy transition as ‘greenwashing’.

The most realistic alternative he proposed is SMRs. Since the decommissioning of existing large nuclear power plants is irreversible, carbon neutrality must be achieved through SMRs. Chen Yuanjun emphasized, "SMRs are safe and can supply the energy needed by society and industry." He said, "Recently, I have met with government and corporate officials related to nuclear power in various countries," and "More than ten countries worldwide, including regions in Africa, are interested in adopting SMRs." This shows the great potential of the SMR market.

Regarding South Korea, which is considering ways to secure electricity, he advised, "You must never give up the nuclear power foundation that can lead the global energy transition and decarbonization." He also stressed, "You should actively engage in SMR development and export."

He emphasized the need to expand production scale to respond to global SMR demand by providing tax support for SMR manufacturing facilities and supply chains, thereby lowering SMR construction costs. He also highlighted that China’s SMR technology is ahead compared to the West, and that South Korea should lead SMR technology.