TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will establish the world's first environmental assessment standards for floating solar panels by end of 2025, Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) announced Monday (Oct. 20). The initiative addresses public concerns about water pollution from solar installations, with Peng noting no country currently maintains such regulations.
Peng told the Legislative Yuan's (立法院) Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee (社會福利及衛生環境委員會) that analysis of more than 100 countries revealed none have environmental assessments for floating solar panels. He outlined a three-tiered monitoring strategy to assess water quality impacts, confirming current water quality shows no abnormalities and extreme experiments will ensure safety.
The committee summoned five ministries including Environment (環境部), Economic Affairs (經濟部), Agriculture (農業部), Interior (內政部), and Transportation and Communications (交通部) to review solar farm regulations in protected areas. Environment and Agriculture ministries conducted surfactant tests, revealing results close to scientific measurement limits that Peng suggested likely reflect natural conditions.
Peng assured lawmakers that southern Taiwan water quality remains unchanged, with the Agriculture Ministry confirming only clean water is used for washing solar panels. To enhance transparency, panel cleaning will be recorded and made public for broader understanding. ◼
