HEXA Renewables and Heyang Renewables Launch "Eel Bites Festival," Showcasing a Community-Integrated Solar Farm Model

Residents enthusiastically joined the green energy quiz, with winners receiving locally grown Yunlin rice a gesture symbolizing "from Yunlin, for Yunlin," and underscoring the dual value of green energy and local industries.

As a leading international green energy promoter, HEXA Renewables, together with its subsidiary Heyang Renewables, upholds its brand commitment to "Sustaining the Future Through Action" by co-hosting Taiwan's first-ever Eel Bites Festival with the Kouhu Township Association for the Welfare of the Elderly in Yunlin County. The event combined local specialty ingredients—eel—with green energy education and elderly care, attracting more than 150 participants, most of whom were local seniors, showcasing the vitality of older communities actively engaging in social activities. This pioneering model not only fosters cultural heritage but also closely integrates the sustainable development of solar PV projects with local community prosperity, embodying the mutual trust and progress between green energy and society. It provides a concrete, replicable model for advancing Taiwan's energy transition and community collaboration.

At the Eel Bites Festival, HEXA Renewables and Heyang Renewables joined Yunlin's elderly community in making eel rice balls by hand, kneading warm rice and wrapping it with savory eel — a simple act that rekindled cherished hometown flavors.

A Taste of Eel, A Bond of Community and Green Energy
Wang Wen-Wei, General Manager of HEXA Renewables, stated: "Green energy is not only a solution for energy transition, but should also serve as a force that strengthens community bonds and fosters local prosperity. At Kouhu, HEXA Renewables is deeply rooted in this land, not only by advancing solar-fishery symbiosis projects, but also through long-term commitments to community engagement, cultural heritage, and local employment, working hand in hand with residents to preserve the area's cherished traditions. We believe every initiative is an opportunity to build trust through mutual understanding, and to co-create shared future value. Wang emphasized that this truly reflects HEXA Renewables' philosophy: participating in the revitalization of local culture, driving Taiwan's energy transition at the community level, and creating long-term social impact. Wang Cheng-min, Chairman of the Kouhu Township Senior Welfare Association and a respected local elder, added: "Many of our elders and children usually have limited opportunities to engage in activities. Today's event gave them the chance to come together, make eel rice balls by hand, and also help the children learn about our local values. It not only brought back the familiar taste of home but also contributed to the physical and mental well-being of our seniors."

Blending Local Flavors with Green Energy Knowledge
The highlight of the Eel Bites Festival was the "DIY Eel Rice Ball" activity, featuring freshly cooked rice paired with plump, locally sourced eels from Kouhu. As the savory aroma filled the air, elders—accompanied by volunteers—carefully pressed and shaped the rice and eel into perfect rice balls, their hands fragrant with the scent of warm grains. Some participants shared family pickling secrets, while others recalled childhood memories of eel dishes at the dinner table. Laughter, conversation, and the rich aroma of eel created an atmosphere of warmth and familiarity. The event also included a "Green Energy Quiz" with prizes, covering topics from environmental protection to aquaculture–solar coexistence. Winners received locally produced Yunlin rice, symbolizing the commitment to "from Yunlin, for Yunlin" and underscoring the dual value of aquaculture–solar coexistence for both local industries and the community.

The event opened with a lively warm-up dance, where 150 elders and residents moved to the music amid waves of laughter and applause, creating a vivid picture of community togetherness.

From Yunlin to the Future: A Path of Shared Sustainability
The festival attracted more than 150 local residents, where the aroma of food mingled with laughter, fostering bonds across generations. According to the National Development Council, Taiwan officially entered a super-aged society this year. Against this backdrop, the Eel Bites Festival provides a practical model for how businesses can promote cultural heritage, healthy aging, and energy education in an aging society, while also highlighting the community impact of integrating green energy with local industries and cultural identity.

More than just a local event, the Eel Bites Festival served as a cross-generational and cross-industry example of community co-creation, embodying HEXA Renewables and Heyang Renewables brand spirit of "growing with the community, thriving together." Moving forward, both companies will continue to deepen their roots in Yunlin, upholding the principle of local coexistence and shared prosperity. By aligning green energy development with local culture and industry, they remain committed to their promise of "safeguarding sustainability through action," while steadily contributing to Taiwan's energy transition and sustainable development.