Taiwan Nuclear Referendum: KMT Backs Nuclear for AI Compute as Critics Cite Cost and Renewable Crowding
AEC industry
Ahead of Taiwan's November 28 nuclear referendum, the Kuomintang (KMT) launched campaign materials arguing nuclear power is needed to secure electricity and AI compute for industrial competitiveness. Civic groups and researchers countered that small modular reactors (SMRs) remain costly and delayed, warning inflexible nuclear generation could crowd out renewables and raise overall energy costs.
With Taiwan's nuclear referendum approaching on November 28, the Kuomintang (KMT) released an official website and promotional video, contending that sufficient power is critical for AI compute and economic competitiveness, and urging voters to include nuclear power in the energy mix. In response, environmental groups and researchers expressed skepticism. Chao Chia-wei, research director at the Taiwan Climate Action Network, stated that even if small modular reactors (SMRs) enter mass production by 2040, their generation costs will remain higher than current renewable prices, making them no guarantee of cheap electricity. National Taiwan Ocean University assistant professor Yen Tung-po warned that prioritizing inflexible nuclear generation could impede renewable energy deployment, inflate system costs, and slow net-zero transition efforts.
Key takeaways
- The KMT launched campaign materials arguing that sufficient electricity is essential for AI compute and industrial competitiveness, advocating for nuclear power.
- Chao Chia-wei of the Taiwan Climate Action Network noted that even if SMRs are mass-produced by 2040, their generation costs will exceed current renewable prices.
- Scholar Yen Tung-po stated that dispatching inflexible nuclear units would hinder renewable growth, raise energy system costs, and slow net-zero progress.
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