2025 Taiwan solar PV market: conservative decisions amid weaker demand and tighter restrictions

Over the past two years, growth in Taiwan’s solar PV market has slowed noticeably. Observations from Energy Taiwan 2025, together with recent installation data and module price trends, suggest that sluggish demand has become a broad industry consensus. As the market environment has turned more conservative, industry priorities have shifted from rapid capacity expansion toward cost structures, system safety, and certification requirements.

At Energy Taiwan 2025, wind-load resistance requirements and the application of large-format modules emerged as key discussion topics, further highlighting differences between imported and locally manufactured modules in terms of reliability and applicable scenarios.
 

Wind-load standards advance, accelerating product differentiation

In recent years, repeated strong wind events in Taiwan’s southern coastal regions have prompted regulators to accelerate reviews of existing design and installation standards. Unlike previous energy exhibitions, which mainly emphasized module efficiency and prices, Energy Taiwan’s focus this year’ has clearly shifted toward system safety, with wind-load resistance becoming a prominent topic of discussion.

Against this backdrop, regulatory proposals under review are largely aligned with international standards such as IEC 61215 and IEC 61730, requiring modules to pass mechanical load testing. Recent draft guidelines and technical discussions have referenced benchmark load thresholds of 7,200 Pa on the front side and 5,400 Pa on the rear side to address strong wind conditions and extreme weather risks. In anticipation of these potential regulations, most Taiwanese manufacturers have proactively submitted products for third-party certification and have highlighted “rear-side wind-load resistance exceeding 5,400 Pa” as a key selling point at the exhibition. Through this approach, Taiwanese suppliers aim to strengthen their competitive positioning in specific application scenarios via structural safety and reliability.

By contrast, for most Southeast Asian manufacturers, the overall incentive remains limited given the additional costs associated with wind-load testing and obtaining third-party certification specifically for the Taiwan market. While some imported products claim high wind-load resistance in their specifications, these products have not necessarily completed full third-party verification. As a result, some developers have become more cautious when selecting imported modules.

As wind-load-related regulations are expected to be progressively implemented from 2025 onward, this trend is likely to translate into a relative advantage for locally manufactured modules that have already completed certification. Conversely, non-local modules that have not been adapted to Taiwan-specific requirements or verified accordingly may face increasing constraints on their applicable project scope.
 

Large-format modules emerge, but the market remains in a testing phase 

Beyond wind-load considerations, Energy Taiwan 2025 also revealed a gradual shift among Southeast Asian module producers toward larger formats. Some manufacturers have already introduced G12 and G12R products and are actively exploring entry into the Taiwan market. During the exhibition, a small number of Taiwanese producers were observed marketing large-format modules through OEM arrangements with Southeast Asian suppliers, indicating that the supply chain has begun to test the feasibility of large-format applications.  Looking ahead, more Southeast Asian manufacturers may follow suit.

In the current Taiwan market remains cautious the Voluntary Product Certification (VPC) incentive framework has yet to clearly define standards or eligibility criteria for large-format modules. In addition, end-market acceptance remains limited, particularly with respect to structural design, installation methods, and on-site application considerations. As a result, large-format modules are unlikely to see widespread adoption in the near term. Given that local production lines have not yet fully transitioned to large-format manufacturing, any short-term demand for such modules is expected to be met primarily through imports.
 

Unresolved permitting bottlenecks continue to weigh on installation progress

According to the Energy Administration, Taiwan added 902 MWac of new PV capacity from January to October 2025, down 36% YoY, bringing cumulative installed capacity to 15.2 GWac as of October. While the government has postponed the original 20 GW target from 2025 to 2026, the current installation pace and project pipeline suggest that bridging a multi-GW shortfall within one to two years will be challenging amid a clear slowdown in demand.

The market had anticipated faster permitting and policy execution under the new administration; however, many projects remain constrained by local objections, land-use disputes, and environmental concerns. Amendments to the three PV-related acts have tightened the requirements for farmland use and assessments, further increasing pressure on ground-mounted projects. In the absence of clear positive policy incentives, developers remain cautious in advancing new projects.

Considering installation progress and project delays, InfoLink estimates Taiwan’s 2025 PV demand at 1.5–2 GWdc, with installations of 1.3–1.7 GWac. Looking ahead to 2026, despite looming capacity targets, upcoming local elections and continued policy and permitting delays are likely to limit overall installation growth.


 

Price divergence continues to widen, alongside deeper penetration of imported modules

Despite conservative demand expectations in the recent two years, Taiwan module prices retain near-term support, backed by year-end restarts of some domestic cell lines, higher utilization rates, and pre-year-end inventory replenishment. Locally produced TOPCon modules are currently quoted at USD 0.220–0.240/W, compared with USD 0.135–0.150/W for Southeast Asian modules. Against a backdrop of weak demand visibility, the cost-performance advantage of Southeast Asian imports is increasingly evident, and for developers without origin requirements, the shift toward imported modules is becoming more pronounced.

As of November 2025, Taiwan has imported 800 MW of modules. While non-VPC modules are still not the mainstream choice, for large self-consumption projects not subject to VPC requirements and for developments prioritizing minimization of capital expenditure (CapEx), solutions such as imported Southeast Asian modules or modules assembled in Taiwan from third-country cells assembled  have become among the most attractive options.


 

Policy momentum remains cautious, as the market enters an adjustment phase

On the policy front, Taiwan’s solar market has seen a clear slowdown over the past two years, alongside stricter review requirements. While the deferred implementation of the Spatial Planning Act offers some near-term flexibility for ground-mounted projects, amendments to the three PV-related acts have materially raised land approval thresholds. Mandatory rooftop installation rules remain under review and limited in scope, suggesting only a modest near-term impact on overall demand.

With new project development constrained, policy focus is increasingly shifting toward system upgrades and structural safety improvements at existing sites. Overall, Taiwan’s solar market is unlikely to revert to a rapid, utility-scale expansion model, with competition expected to center more on regulatory compliance, cost control, and product suitability.