TRENA TALKS

In Episode 7 of "The Energy Between" podcast series—a joint initiative by the Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance (TRENA) and the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT) Low Carbon Initiative—co-hosts Raoul Kubitschek and Bart Linssen are joined by Dr. Tsaiying Lu, Director of the Energy Security and Climate Resilience Program at DSET (Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology). DSET is a Taiwanese think tank founded by the National Science and Technology Council. As a trained energy historian, Dr. Lu offers a unique perspective on how geopolitical imperatives have shaped Taiwan's energy mix since World War II. The conversation delves into the vulnerabilities of Taiwan's heavily centralized energy system, exploring practical contingency planning against maritime fuel blockades, gray-zone disruptions, and severe weather events. Drawing lessons from Ukraine’s wartime grid adaptations and evaluating climate risks facing Taiwan's semiconductor industry, Dr. Lu outlines why microgrids and localized battery storage are critical for the island's future resilience. ⏱️ Episode Highlights Geopolitics as the Historical Core of Energy Decisions: Geopolitical considerations have guided Taiwan's energy policy choices for decades, exemplified by the installation of Taiwan's first wind turbine on strategic Penghu Island during the 1960s to ensure defense self-sufficiency for the island. Managing LNG Supply Risks & Shipping Vulnerabilities: With 80% of Taiwan's electricity relying on imported coal and LNG, disruptions like the Strait of Hormuz crisis demonstrate the necessity Taiwan's pro-actively taking measures to secure LNG supply and further diversify their energy mix.  Accounting for Climate Risks in Advanced Manufacturing: How to make sure that the semiconductor industry and the energy sector does forward planning to be able to mitigate climate change impacts.  The Imperative for Microgrids and Battery Storage: To protect critical infrastructure against military blockades or natural disasters, Taiwan must shift from a centralized power grid toward localized microgrids integrated with battery storage and standardized charging platforms. 🎙️ Speakers Guests: Dr. Tsaiying Lu  呂采穎  , Research Fellow and Director of the Energy Security and Climate Resilience Program at The Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology(DSET)  Hosts: Raoul Kubitschek, Chairman, Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance Bart Linssen, Energy Transition & Sustainability Director, European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan Support Green Energy Education — Sponsor TRENA Today! Production Team Planning: Raoul Kubitschek / Bart Linssen Script: Raoul Kubitschek / Bart Linssen Assistant: Yeh Liu Hung-Wen Editing: neromixing477 Clubhouse:https://www.clubhouse.com/c/join/d8RtsGj7 Apple Podcast:https://pse.is/7xp4wn Sound On:https://pse.is/7xp53k Spotify:https://pse.is/7xp56k KKBOX:https://pse.is/7xp57k ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ＼We’re looking for friends!／ Join our Instagram and Facebook group to connect with the community: https://linktr.ee/trena_taiwan If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave us a message, send an email, or fill out the form below! Email: trena@trena.org.tw Tell us what you think about this episode: https://forms.gle/QPngKHKrhum6QVcn6

In this episode of The Energy Between, co-hosts Raoul Kubitschek (TRENA) and Bart Linssen (ECCT Low Carbon Initiative) are joined by Anton Antonenko, Co-founder and Vice President of DiXi Group—one of Ukraine's leading energy and climate policy think tanks. Anton shares how DiXi Group promotes energy market transparency, fair regulations, and European integration, while actively working to ensure energy security and counter the weaponization of energy supplies. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine’s ongoing energy war and observations from his work internationally and in Taiwan, Anton highlights the vital importance of multi-crisis preparedness, infrastructure protection, and international collaboration. ⏱️ Episode Highlights DiXi Group's Mission: Cutting edge solutions and fair rules in the energy and climate change fields. Energy Security & Sanctions: Exposing energy weaponization and tracking global dependencies in the nuclear energy sector. Resilience Across Borders: Comparing emergency readiness, anti-drone defense measures, and multi-threat preparedness in Taiwan and Ukraine. Future-Proofing Infrastructure: Modernizing energy grids and exploring sustainable technologies like shallow geothermal heating. 🎙️ Speakers Guests: Anton Antonenko, Co-founder and Vice President, DiXi Group Hosts: Raoul Kubitschek, Chairman, Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance Bart Linssen, Energy Transition & Sustainability Director, European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan Support Green Energy Education — Sponsor TRENA Today! Production Team Planning: Raoul Kubitschek / Bart Linssen Script: Raoul Kubitschek / Bart Linssen Assistant: Yeh Liu Hung-Wen Editing: neromixing477 Clubhouse:https://www.clubhouse.com/c/join/d8RtsGj7 Apple Podcast:https://pse.is/7xp4wn Sound On:https://pse.is/7xp53k Spotify:https://pse.is/7xp56k KKBOX:https://pse.is/7xp57k ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ＼We’re looking for friends!／ Join our Instagram and Facebook group to connect with the community: https://linktr.ee/trena_taiwan If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave us a message, send an email, or fill out the form below! Email: trena@trena.org.tw Tell us what you think about this episode: https://forms.gle/QPngKHKrhum6QVcn6

In this episode of "The Energy Between," co-hosts Raoul Kubitschek (Chairman of the Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance) and Bart Linssen (ECCT Low Carbon Initiative) talked with Dr. G.P. Yeh—renowned physicist, innovator, and founder of the GP Yeh Foundation. Ahead of his panel appearance at the Energy Taiwan Forum on the 15th October in Taipei, Dr. Yeh shares insights from his 20-year involvement in global energy solutions, discussing the rapid growth of renewable energy, the need for fundamental changes in nuclear energy, and the critical importance of energy independence, security, and resilience for Taiwan and the world. He emphasizes that nuclear power requires fundamental changes rather than minor adjustments, believing that alongside renewables, it can play a key role in addressing global energy challenges. ⏱️ Episode Highlights **Role of Nuclear Energy: **Dr. G.P. Yeh emphasizes that nuclear energy requires fundamental changes to help solve global energy challenges alongside renewable resources. **Focus on Energy Security: **For countries like Taiwan, achieving energy independence and resilience is a critical factor for national security and the economy. **Energy Taiwan Forum: **The upcoming forum on October 15 brings together experts to discuss pressing topics such as Taiwan's energy mix, grid resilience, and sustainable solutions. **Economic Incentives: **The global shift toward renewable energy gains significant momentum when sustainable decisions are also economically advantageous.🎙️ Speakers Guest: Dr. G P Yeh 葉恭平 , President and Chairman of G P Yeh Foundation  Hosts: Raoul Kubitschek 孔榮, Chairman, Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance Bart Linssen 黎森, Director Energy Transition and Sustainability Team, European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan  Support Green Energy Education — Sponsor TRENA Today! Production Team Planning: Raoul Kubitschek / Bart Linssen Script: Raoul Kubitschek / Bart Linssen Assistant: Yeh Liu Hung-Wen Editing: neromixing477 Clubhouse:https://www.clubhouse.com/c/join/d8RtsGj7 Apple Podcast:https://pse.is/7xp4wn Sound On:https://pse.is/7xp53k Spotify:https://pse.is/7xp56k KKBOX:https://pse.is/7xp57k ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ＼We’re looking for friends!／ Join our Instagram and Facebook group to connect with the community: https://linktr.ee/trena_taiwan If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave us a message, send an email, or fill out the form below! Email: trena@trena.org.tw Tell us what you think about this episode: https://forms.gle/QPngKHKrhum6QVcn6

Lessons from Taiwan’s  Offshore Wind Delivery, Risk, and Infrastructure Governance Hosted by TRENA Chairman Raoul Kubitschek and Vice Chairwoman Y.D. Chang, this series moves beyond high-level policy pledges to confront the realities of execution, procurement, and commercial risk in the race toward net zero. As global renewable targets accelerate, infrastructure developers face a brutal statistical reality known as the Iron Law of Megaprojects: across more than 22,000 global projects, only 0.4% deliver on budget, on schedule, and on promised benefits simultaneously. To unpack how the industry can defy these staggering odds, this episode features Gareth Dooley, Senior Expert at Oxford Global Projects and who has long standing experience in working in Taiwan’s and global Offshore Wind projects.  Drawing on over two decades of global project management experience—spanning geophysics, commercial delivery, research in major program management, and hands-on offshore wind delivery—Gareth reveals why ambitious energy ventures slip off track. Together, we explore how data-driven decision-making, upfront investment in front-end loading, and collaborative contracting can save projects millions before offshore installation even begins. From navigating supply chain localization and port constraints to safeguarding schedule float, we examine what it truly takes to manage complexity. Tune in to discover how developers and policymakers can break the Iron Law—turning auction ambitions into steel in the water and green power on the grid. Host: Raoul Kubitschek, Chairman, Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance Co-Host: Y.D. Chang Yadun, vice chairwoman, Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance Guest: Gareth Dooley, Senior Expert, Oxford Global Projects Support Green Energy Education — Sponsor TRENA Today! Production Team Planning: Raoul Kubitschek / Y.D. Chang Yadun Script: Raoul Kubitschek / Y.D. Chang Yadun Assistant: Yeh Liu Hung-Wen Copy Editing: Yang Hui-ti Editing: neromixing477 Clubhouse:https://www.clubhouse.com/c/join/d8RtsGj7 Apple Podcast:https://pse.is/7xp4wn Sound On:https://pse.is/7xp53k Spotify:https://pse.is/7xp56k KKBOX:https://pse.is/7xp57k ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ＼We’re looking for friends!／ Join our Instagram and Facebook group to connect with the community: https://linktr.ee/trena_taiwan If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave us a message, send an email, or fill out the form below! Email: trena@trena.org.tw Tell us what you think about this episode: https://forms.gle/QPngKHKrhum6QVcn6

As Taiwan's industries continue to grow, so does the demand for water, energy, and critical resources. In this episode of The Energy Between, we speak with Laurent Pelletier, CEO of Veolia Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macau, about why environmental infrastructure is becoming central to Taiwan's long-term competitiveness. Together, we explore how water resilience, desalination, waste-to-energy, resource regeneration, and digital innovation are helping reshape the way industries think about sustainability—not simply as an environmental responsibility, but as a foundation for future growth and resilience. ⏱️ Episode Highlights Why environmental security is becoming a strategic priority for Taiwan. Can Taiwan build industrial growth without compromising water security? How circular economy is shifting from recycling to resource regeneration. Why AI is transforming the future of environmental infrastructure. What Taiwan can learn from global approaches to water resilience. The policies and partnerships needed to accelerate the transition. 🎙️ Speakers Guests: Laurent Pelletier 鮑智雅, CEO, Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macau, Veolia Hosts: Raoul Kubitschek 孔榮, Chairman, Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance Annie Shih 施語嫻, Energy Transition & Sustainability Officer, European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan Apple Podcast: https://pse.is/7xp4wn Sound On: https://pse.is/7xp53k Spotify: https://pse.is/7xp56k KKBOX: https://pse.is/7xp57k