In response to the growing public demand for air quality, the Executive Yuan put forth the Air Pollution Control Action Plan: Halving Red Alert Days ( 空氣污 染防制行動方案：紅害減半大作戰 ) on 21 December 2017. Amelioration of boiler air pollutant emissions is a major focus for improving air quality.

To hasten the phase-out of boilers and further cut pollution emissions, the EPA drafted the Boiler Air Pollutant Emission Standards, which specifies controls and subsidies. For each individual industry, emission standards for boiler air pollutants are the same regardless of operation scale or fuel types. However, industries will follow their own specific emission standards if they are already in place.

The EPA stressed that steam boilers account for more than 70% of Taiwan’s stationary source pollution. All boilers, except for those controlled under emission standards for specific industries, fall under the purview of the Stationary Pollution Source Air Pollutant Emission Standards ( 固定污染源空氣 污染物排放標準 ). Besides industrial manufacturing, boilers are also used in hospitals, schools, and hotels, often located in densely populated urban areas. The pollutants produced can easily affect regional air quality and become public nuisances, which lead to the necessity of establishing emission standards for boiler facilities.

The EPA pointed out that countries such as Japan, Korea and the US have tightened boiler emission standards and also that Taiwan’s end-of-pipe pollutant treatment technology has become more mature. The EPA therefore considered it necessary to tighten emission standards, strengthen control measures and improve air quality. The draft of the Boiler Air Pollutant Emission Standards takes reference from international standards, evaluations of current emissions in Taiwan, best available control technology, and cost-effect analysis results. It is estimated that yearly emissions of SOx, NOx, and particulate matters will be reduced by 6,930 metric tons, 3,190 metric tons, and 1,119 metric tons, respectively.