Recent demand in energy has caused a sharp increase in the price of primary energy. The Kyoto Protocol supported by most countries has also taken effect in 2005. The energy issue has again become the focal point of the world since the energy crisis of 1973. Taiwan’s energy import amounts to 98% of its total need and most of this energy comes from coal and petroleum, leading to both insufficiency in energy independence and excess in producing green-house gases. Energy supply and energy security are important foundations for the national economy and national power. However, Taiwan lacks an integrated policy and planning in energy research and development. Thus, it is unfavorable for developing and promoting energy technology, as indicated in the “Report for Strategy and Planning in Energy Field, 2004 Government Science and Technology Project.” In the era of internal revolt and foreign aggression, it is urgently needed to establish an integrated energy policy and its developing strategy.

Consequently, the Executive Yuan has set up the Steering Group for Energy Policy and Technological Development with the main responsibility in devising national energy policy, supply strategy, technology developing strategy, and energy industrial development policy. With the instruction from the National Science Council, the STPI will assist in establishing the Energy Planning Office and support the Task Force for Energy Policy and Technological Development in order to compile information and provide strategic advice. In this research project, we plan to organize STPI’s own energy research team; assist the Energy Planning Office to coordinate important energy institutes in Taiwan; conduct researches and discussions in related energy issues as well as form consensus; and submit recommendations for energy policy to the Task Force for Energy Policy and Technological Development, the Executive Yuan.

The project takes the following key issues as its priority: (1) concern in energy security; (2) excessive emission of green-house gases; (3) the balance among economic development, environmental protection, and energy security. The main tasks include the following:
(1) Coordinate and tackle inter-industrial and inter-departmental issues under the commission of other agencies.
(2) Coordinate the blueprint establishment, framework integration, and detailed division of work for energy technology, industry, and regulation.
(3) Provide communication platform for industry, government, and academia and to promote active exchange of ideas.
(4) Coordinate recommendations for energy policy and its technology development.

The project is expected to achieve the following goals:
1. Establish developing blueprint for energy technology, industry, and regulation.
2. Establish measures for energy conservation.
3. Investigate the issue of energy security stock.
4. Establish the model and goal for controlling green-house gases.
5. Confirm and coordinate confronting issues.
6. Promote national movement of energy conservation.