Taiwan’s energy transition has recently witnessed significant advancements in solar (14 GW installed capacity) and offshore wind (3 GW) energy. However, despite substantial geothermal potential, geothermal development remains markedly underdeveloped.This study traces the evolution of Taiwan’s geothermal policy over recent decades, employing a socio-technical systems framework to interrogate the persistent barriers impeding progress. This framework conceptualizes geothermal development as a complex socio-technical transition, necessitating the alignment of technological, societal, and institutional domains to surmount multifaceted challenges. Since the 2010s, revitalized policy reforms, private sector engagement, and global imperatives for net-zero emissions have spurred renewed exploration. Nevertheless, development is constrained by a nexus of barriers: technical limitations, including geological complexity and inadequate drilling expertise; economic disincentives, such as high capital costs and suboptimal feed-in tariffs; regulatory impediments stemming from regulatory reforms ; social contestation arising from limited public awareness, indigenous land rights concerns, and conflicts with hot spring tourism; and environmental challenges, notably seismic risks and ecological sensitivities in protected areas like national parks. The socio-technical perspective underscores the pivotal role of stakeholder alignment, involving government agencies, private developers, indigenous communities, and tourism operators, in navigating these challenges. Key findings advocate for integrated strategies that couple technological innovation with institutional reforms including harmonized permitting processes, enhanced inter-ministerial coordination, and participatory governance with local communities.
