American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene recently stated that the United States, now the world’s largest energy exporter, is capable of providing Taiwan with comprehensive energy solutions—from geothermal and nuclear energy to advanced grid technologies. In this context, National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin). On April 23, NTOU Honorary Professor Chao-Shing Lee and Professor Chung-Cheng Chang, together with Dr. Ken Wisian, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT Austin, officially announced the commencement of a collaborative geothermal research initiative aimed at accelerating the development of geothermal resources in Taiwan.

Green energy development is a globally significant issue. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that global geothermal capacity will reach 800 GW by 2050. Taiwan’s Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs also raised the national geothermal target for 2030 to between 1.2 and 1.5 GW earlier this year. From Taipei to Yilan, substantial geothermal resources can be found both onshore and offshore. Moreover, the northeastern power grid already covers much of the geothermal potential region, making it an optimal zone for energy transition.

Honorary Professor Chao-Shing Lee noted that Taiwan’s geothermal industry is still in its early stages. Through international collaboration, the development of deep geothermal resources—capable of serving as baseload power—can play a vital role in the country’s energy transformation. This cooperation aims to establish a renewed, improved, and socially responsive geothermal industry chain. The partnership will include technical exchanges, joint research, and co-development of geothermal resources. It is expected to not only boost geothermal development in Taiwan but also foster innovation and research in geothermal technologies between the two institutions.

Dr. Ken Wisian also shared several achievements by the Bureau of Economic Geology, including their earlier “Geothermal Anywhere” initiative and their recent advancements in techno-economic modeling. This model incorporates over 150 variables to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of geothermal projects, offering valuable insights for developers. He further emphasized that geothermal energy doesn’t always need to be converted into electricity—it can also be used directly or in hybrid applications. Examples include agricultural product drying, greenhouses, and steam absorption chillers. These forms of utilization could prove to be more efficient and economically suitable for local needs—similar applications are already underway in Texas.

The announcement event also drew many distinguished guests, including Director General Joe Nieh of the State of Texas Taiwan Office (STTO); Manager Nasikul Islam of Exceed Geo Energy; Chairman Eddie Y. Wang of Far East Renewables Group–Texas; Chairman Marc Ching-Hui Liao of Far East Renewables Group–Taiwan; Chairman Cheng-Yan Gao of Lanyang Geothermal Corp.; and Dr. Shou-Cheng Wang, Executive Director of the Taiwan Geothermal Association (TGA), among many other industry experts.

Source: Intelligent Electronics Industry-Academia Research Center