A Multifaceted Approach to Achieving Net Zero Emissions: Green Energy Industry Alliance

To create a sustainable Earth and Taiwan, raising public awareness about net-zero emissions is a key reason for establishing the Taiwan Green Energy Industry Alliance. This alliance comprises six core components: policy, circular economy, smart innovation, green energy, and healthy enterprises. Today, Chairman Guangxiong Chen, representing the innovation group, gave an integrated interview.

The Threat of Greenhouse Gases

The concept of maintaining a ±2°C threshold is critical because if the global temperature rises beyond this tipping point, it could continue to climb to 3, 4, 5, or even 6°C, putting numerous species at risk of extinction. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol was a landmark agreement where 30 industrialized nations committed to working together to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The primary goal was to prevent the Earth’s average temperature from rising more than 2°C, taking the first steps to avoid irreversible damage.

As populations grow and material demands increase, the economy and carbon emissions have shown a near-direct correlation. This raised the question: Is it possible to prevent CO₂ emissions from increasing? Years of global collaboration revealed that it is indeed achievable. This progress led to the 2016 Paris Agreement, which revised the Kyoto Protocol’s 2°C target downward to 1.5°C.

To effectively reduce global temperatures, achieving net zero emissions has become one of the most crucial strategies. Net zero does not mean eliminating all emissions but minimizing human-caused greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible. Any remaining emissions are then offset using negative carbon technologies, such as carbon capture or forest carbon sinks, to achieve a balance and reach net-zero emissions.

Key Strategies for Promoting Net Zero Emissions

If a company emits excessive carbon, it can purchase carbon credits. However, businesses often encounter challenges with the strict carbon neutrality and reduction standards imposed by advanced industrial nations, particularly in Europe. To meet these requirements, some companies relocate production to Asian countries, creating an unfair situation where Europe achieves reduced pollution while transferring environmental harm to other regions.

In response, businesses worldwide are increasingly developing carbon reduction plans and adopting green energy. This has led to the introduction of environmental taxes, such as carbon taxes, levied on goods or services based on their CO₂ emissions.

The European Union has also implemented the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This policy requires carbon-intensive products like aluminum, steel, cement, fertilizers, and electricity imported into the EU to declare their carbon emissions. Importers must pay a “carbon border adjustment tax” by purchasing certificates corresponding to their emissions. This ensures accountability and encourages global efforts to reduce carbon footprints.

ESG Driving the Global Supply Chain

ESG stands for Environment (E), focusing on environmental protection, Social (S), addressing social responsibilities, and Governance (G), emphasizing corporate governance.

Major U.S. corporations have discovered that adhering to ESG principles significantly enhances long-term sustainability. Conversely, failing to meet ESG standards can pose substantial risks to businesses. For instance, Apple has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and demands the same from its supply chain. Companies failing to meet this requirement cannot remain part of Apple’s supply chain. With such prominent global brands leading the way, other major companies have followed suit, embracing ESG goals.

Energy Storage Technology and Green Economy Transition

As companies transition to align with ESG standards, the primary consideration is energy choice. Shifting from a “black economy” reliant on fossil fuels to a green economy involves adopting renewable energy. Among these, energy storage technology plays a vital role alongside renewable sources.

In Taiwan, the Green Energy Alliance aims to increase solar energy production to 20 GW (gigawatts). However, there is currently a significant gap in achieving this goal, indicating that the energy crisis will remain a challenge in the coming years. Energy storage solutions are indispensable for overcoming this shortfall and ensuring a stable and sustainable energy supply for the future.

Emerging Technologies: Carbon Capture and Hydrogen Energy

Even if net-zero carbon emissions are achieved by 2050, the carbon already accumulated in the atmosphere will still be substantial. Therefore, our goal is not just achieving “net zero” but also moving toward “negative carbon.” Carbon capture is considered a form of negative carbon technology, and the circular economy is another. But the next question is: after capturing the carbon, where should it go?

When performing carbon capture, it is first necessary to understand the geological conditions. Currently, Taipower has small-scale carbon capture technology, but the cost remains very high, and it is still a technology under development. Opinions on various renewable energy technologies are mixed, but there is broad consensus on hydrogen energy because its primary byproduct is water, which means it has fewer side effects compared to other energy sources.

New Concepts in Energy Storage for Transportation

Electric scooters and electric cars are the trends of future transportation. The shift from conventional scooters to electric ones has already seen progress, but what about cars?

At this stage, we need to establish a new concept. In the future, batteries may no longer need to be purchased, because electric vehicles (cars, scooters, etc.) will themselves function as large batteries. When there is an electricity shortage, you could even sell power back to the grid. By treating electric vehicles as batteries and using basements as storage hubs, we can create an entire power transformation center, which we call the building life-support system.

When processing electricity in the basement, independent digital meters and storage cabinets are required to manage power usage during peak and off-peak periods. The charging system must be capable of both charging and discharging. The entire power grid management must be digitalized and powered by AI, solving energy storage problems step by step.

A Breakthrough Lifestyle Model

How can these electric vehicles enter communities? How will they be used, and how can they generate multiple benefits? Just like how smartphones have transformed our way of life, every new innovation brings about an entirely new model. Whether it’s about achieving net-zero carbon emissions, discussing ESG, carbon tariffs, or the buying and selling of electricity, these economic concepts are now fully integrated into everyday life.

When global climate change and the threat of greenhouse gases lead to rising temperatures, the most urgent issue to address is reducing carbon emissions. This can be achieved through adjustments in national policies, promoting strategies such as carbon neutrality, carbon credits, and carbon border taxes, while leveraging ESG ratings to encourage corporate participation. At the same time, advancing renewable energy and energy storage technologies, along with implementing negative carbon solutions like carbon capture, will help achieve net-zero emissions. Taking a multifaceted approach to build a new sustainable lifestyle model will be the key process for ensuring long-term development.