TAIWAN Trends and Developments Contributed by: Susan Lo, Chi Lee and Evelyn Shih, Lee and Li Attorneys-at-Law
Lee and Li Attorneys-at-Law 8F, No 555, Sec 4 Zhongxiao E Rd Taipei 110055 Taiwan
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Introduction This article explores recent developments in Taiwan’s joint venture (JV) landscape across key industries. It highlights new opportunities in the renewable energy sector driven by supportive policies, the growing role of AI-focused JVs and the expansion of outbound JV activities within the semiconductor industry. Addition - ally, it examines realignments in Taiwan’s retail sector as signs of market maturity and increasing investment sophistication. The discussion also covers recent court decisions impacting JV-related disputes, pro - viding a comprehensive overview of the evolving JV environment in Taiwan. New JV Developments in Taiwan’s Renewable Energy Industry In 2025, Taiwan’s offshore wind sector entered a new phase of development with the launch of Taiwan Intel - ligent Energy Co (TIEC), a JV formed by six leading corporations across a number of government-owned enterprises and private companies. Government-led initiative TIEC is the first JV of its kind in Taiwan led by a gov - ernment agency, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). The MOEA initiated and facilitated the forma - tion of TIEC to accelerate offshore wind development and enhance the flexibility of green energy procure - ment in Taiwan. Strategic role and market function TIEC, often referred to as the “Costco of green pow - er”, is designed to act as a centralised platform for the bulk purchase and flexible resale of offshore wind
electricity, particularly from the phase 3-1 and 3-2 off - shore wind farms in Taiwan. Its goals include: • improving access to renewable energy for small and medium-sized enterprises; • supporting wind farm developers by aggregat - ing demand from creditworthy buyers, improving financing prospects; and • enhancing procurement flexibility in Taiwan’s renewable energy market. Addressing CPPA-related challenges Starting from phase 3 of offshore wind development in Taiwan, and with substantial development since 2024, projects no longer rely on feed-in tariffs. Instead, pro - jects depend on corporate power purchase agree - ments (CPPAs) for revenue and financing. However, CPPAs typically involve long-term commitments, large purchase volumes and high credit rating requirements, making them inaccessible to many companies. To address this issue, TIEC was established specifical - ly to overcome these barriers by offering shorter-term, smaller-scale purchasing options, thereby broadening access to offshore wind power and supporting a more inclusive energy transition. Regulatory approval and market impact On 3 July 2025, Taiwan’s competition authority, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), approved the JV, con - firming that it would not restrict market competition. Key rationales of the FTC include the following:
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