From One-Way to Two-Way: SunShine Electric's All-Green Vision and Technological Innovations

Three years ago, SunShine Electric pioneered a fully green demonstration community near Zhongxing New Village in Nantou County. This residential model integrates three types of users and incorporates universal EV charging stations from various brands to form an isolated V2H microgrid. This configuration optimally distributes and mutually supports autonomous green energy, delivering over 90% self-supplied power throughout the year while utilizing surplus rooftop solar energy for Bitcoin mining.

SunShine Electric is a pioneering innovator in smart energy technology and sustainable development, steadfast in its mission of "All Green and Green All." The company is committed to realizing 100% green energy through its advanced research in smart energy storage batteries and by leading the market with decentralized virtual power plant (DVPP) solutions that enable dynamic, real-time energy management. By leveraging proprietary private networks and cutting-edge encryption technologies, SunShine Electric ensures that energy data remains both secure and stable. Rocky Chien, the company's founder and current Chairman, is renowned as a versatile innovator across multiple sectors in Taiwan.

Reflecting on his journey, he remarked, "I have long been concerned about the sustainability of our planet's energy. In 2010, when Elon Musk introduced several groundbreaking ideas about reordering our energy landscape, I was inspired. When Tesla entered Taiwan in 2016, I became one of its first hundred owners. At that moment, I was captivated by the prospect of transitioning from internal combustion engines to fully electric vehicles. However, after experiencing electric vehicle usage firsthand, I began to question a fundamental issue: does driving an EV truly equate to being environmentally friendly?"

The answer is not straightforward—it all depends on the source of the electricity. If power is still generated from fossil fuel plants, then the environmental benefit of EVs is significantly undermined. "Consequently, my focus shifted to ensuring that our electricity originates from genuinely clean, green sources, and on identifying the optimal applications of renewable energy in a sustainable framework. This led me to contemplate how to construct a system that truly embodies an ideal energy environment."

Rocky Chien, Chairman of SunShine Electric

From One-Way to Two-Way, from Centralization to Decentralization

Those familiar with the digital transformation of the cable television industry may already recognize Rocky Chien's name. In his early career, he played a key role in the significant shift from analog signals to digital broadcasting in Taiwan's cable TV sector—commonly referred to as the "fourth channel"—and even founded Taiwan Digital Optical Technology. This experience allowed him to witness firsthand the evolution from one-way broadcasting to interactive two-way communication. It is this background that has informed his vision for transforming the energy sector from a unidirectional to a bidirectional model.

"Today's digital networks exemplify two-way interaction, and our power systems are gradually following suit," Chien explained. "Traditionally, electricity was generated at centralized plants and then delivered unidirectionally to consumers—much like a broadcast signal. With advances in digital convergence technology, however, this model is evolving. Households and small private generators can now feed excess power back into the grid, paving the way for a bottom-up, decentralized generation model. This evolution has given rise to virtual power plants (VPPs), which integrate distributed energy resources to enhance system efficiency while empowering each household to become a mini power supplier—a revolutionary shift in our energy structure," said Chieh.

Change invariably brings both challenges and opportunities. "It is not that the government is unwilling to support industry players; rather, policy-makers must consider multiple factors, often resulting in a conservative stance until certain issues are clarified," he added. Even in the private sector, continuous exploration and adjustment are necessary.

For instance, unlike advanced European and American markets where private entities can already feed power back into the grid, Taiwan's current regulations are more restrictive. However, as technology and market dynamics evolve, regulatory adjustments are inevitable. In the interim, sandbox experiments involving industry, government, and academia can foster controlled technological breakthroughs, thereby laying the groundwork for future policy liberalization. "Once regulations are established, the relevant technologies can be rapidly deployed. Our goal is to transform the one-way power supply into a two-way model—a transition that will require open-minded cooperation between government, utilities such as Taipower, and the industry at large. Virtual power plants epitomize bidirectional energy flow. Their two-way interactive model not only enhances power transmission efficiency but also bestows upon every household the potential to serve as a small-scale power provider." said Chieh.

Commitment to and Investment in Sustainable Energy

"SunShine Electric's mission is to empower users with unstoppable, free green energy, facilitating a grassroots build-out of unimpeded free energy," Chien emphasized. "Even in the absence of oil or natural gas, as long as the sun rises, we have power; and when the wind blows, we can generate electricity. During disasters, outages, or periods of energy scarcity, a self-sufficient, highly resilient microgrid becomes an indispensable asset," said Chieh.

When addressing energy challenges, SunShine Electric focuses on delivering tangible benefits. The "All Green and Green All" philosophy is a bold step toward achieving 100% green energy. By striving for the highest ideal, the process naturally progresses through incremental milestones—approaching 80%, 90%, and ultimately nearly 100% green energy utilization. Although the transition from a one-way to a two-way power system may involve an intermediate "half-way" stage, the ultimate vision remains a fully bidirectional power supply that facilitates truly free-flowing electricity—a testament to SunShine Electric's unwavering commitment to an all-green future.

"In designing our energy storage systems, we cannot merely offer a partial solution. We must provide comprehensive green energy solutions for every household and industrial facility. Three years ago, guided by this philosophy, we pioneered a fully green demonstration community near Zhongxing New Village in Nantou County. This residential model integrates three types of users and incorporates universal EV charging stations from various brands to form an isolated V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) microgrid. This configuration optimally distributes and mutually supports autonomous green energy, delivering over 90% self-supplied power throughout the year while utilizing surplus rooftop solar energy for Bitcoin mining—an innovative approach to achieving energy self-sufficiency," he further added.

This model offers a glimpse into the future of energy consumption at home—a shift from conventional households to fully digital, all-green environments where every electricity need, from appliances and elevators to electric vehicles, is met by green energy. In doing so, SunShine Electric not only advances comprehensive household green energy but also propels its overarching mission of "All Green" to ultimately realize "Green All," achieving complete energy self-sufficiency.

A decentralized virtual power plant (DVPP) could support uninterruptible power supply (UPS Home) systems, but it also enables neighboring households to assist one another during emergencies. The more decentralized the grid, the stronger and safer its resilience.

Breakthroughs in In-House Technology and Information Security

Drawing on its extensive background in the cable television industry, SunShine Electric has developed a competitive edge in cloud architecture and communication technologies. "We leverage these technological capabilities to design a dedicated energy management app," explained Chien. "Our integrated management system enables households to achieve green energy self-sufficiency, effectively transforming them into efficient energy production units."

In the development of its green energy technologies, SunShine Electric places a premium on information security—a priority rooted in Chien's past experiences in the cable TV industry. He pointed out that many energy devices currently transmit data via foreign cloud services, which poses significant security risks. In response, the company has developed its own cloud platform and private network to ensure that data remains internal and secure through robust encryption protocols.

"We aim for security, intelligence, and real-time responsiveness. Our in-house developed DataLogger ensures that all data is processed exclusively on our platform, preventing leakage to foreign cloud services. Additionally, we draw on our experience in digital television and encryption to deploy Digi Cypher encryption for data transmission, further safeguarding our information. These measures allow us to establish a closed Private Network dedicated solely to energy data transmission—a network that is not directly connected to the internet, thereby effectively isolating it from potential security threats," added Chieh.

With this closed network architecture, data leakage is virtually eliminated—a critical preparation for the future of virtual power plants. "We call this model a decentralized virtual power plant (DVPP). Not only does such a VPP support uninterruptible power supply (UPS Home) systems, but it also enables neighboring households to assist one another during emergencies. The more decentralized the grid, the stronger and safer its resilience," said Chieh. This innovative framework enhances not only security but also system intelligence and response speed. By rapidly sampling and processing data, the traditional top-down energy supply model is reimagined, paving the way for a smarter, decentralized energy management system. In times of grid emergencies, household virtual power plants can provide immediate power support, reinforcing the overall resilience of the network.

SunShine Electric's energy storage systems are designed with these objectives in mind. Their capacity and performance not only rival those of prominent European and American systems but also exceed them in terms of unit power, battery capacity, and current endurance. Through these innovations, SunShine Electric aspires to help more households achieve the vision of "Unstoppable Free Energy."

Setting the Critical Standards for Taiwan's Energy Strategy

When it comes to energy policy, the key challenge is striking the right balance in regulation. "Excessive regulation can stifle innovation and creativity—especially in the energy sector, where new technologies and ideas are the driving forces behind energy transformation and sustainable development. Unless safety is at risk, the government should minimize unnecessary regulation to foster innovation and industrial growth," Safety—whether in device usage or grid integrity—remains paramount, necessitating strict adherence to standards. Yet, within the bounds of safety, overregulation must be avoided to allow the market and private enterprises the freedom to explore and innovate.

For example, the establishment of bidirectional charging and discharging standards for electric vehicles will play a pivotal role in Taiwan's energy strategy, particularly in the development of virtual power plants. Electric vehicles are not solely for transportation; they can serve as critical energy storage units. Whereas typical household storage batteries offer capacities in the tens of kilowatt-hours, an EV's battery capacity can exceed 65–100 kWh, underscoring the vehicle's importance far beyond that of conventional storage devices.

「Currently, although the number of electric vehicles in Taiwan is on the rise, few models support bidirectional (V2G) charging, and most do not meet the technical specifications ideal for VPP applications. "We are witnessing this trend," Chien noted, "and it raises the question: should the government consider encouraging—or even mandating—that all electric vehicles be equipped with bidirectional charging and discharging capabilities to meet future energy demands and enhance system flexibility? History teaches us that inaction today can lead to regret tomorrow—much like the missed opportunity in popularizing WiMAX technology. Policy makers must clearly define and implement standards to avoid future obstacles in technology deployment."

The government's role, therefore, should be to anticipate these critical technological trends and formulate forward-thinking strategies that align technical specifications with the future demands of the energy system. Such proactive measures will not only catalyze new product and service development but also invigorate market dynamics and encourage widespread private sector participation.

Decentralized Virtual Power Plants: A More Creative Energy Transformation

In the DVPP framework, every household energy storage system serves as a vital component. Although the capacity of an individual system may be modest at first, the aggregated effect of thousands of units can rival the output of a nuclear power plant. Thus, it is not only crucial to establish sound regulations and technical guidelines but also to ignite public interest and participation—encouraging individuals to invest in these innovative energy solutions.

"Regarding battery safety, especially for home battery systems, the government has already relaxed regulations for devices under 20 kW and is planning to introduce new certification schemes to keep pace with technological advances and safety requirements. For example, by employing real-time monitoring that collects data every five seconds, any potential safety issues can be promptly detected and addressed. This approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures user safety. Through these policy measures and technological innovations, we can promote sustainable energy development while safeguarding users against power interruptions and equipment damage—all without resorting to overly restrictive regulation."

Even residents in multi-unit apartment buildings, who may face challenges in installing solar panels, can still access green energy. They can install compact smart microgrid systems that utilize diverse energy sources—such as a combination of lithium battery microgrids and hydrogen energy. In this model, apartment users can effectively treat green hydrogen as a substitute for solar energy. Hydrogen can be produced by installing solar panels on suitable land, giving everyone the opportunity to become a "Hydrogen Farmer" and collect hydrogen for home use. (Recent advancements in solid-state hydrogen storage now allow hydrogen to be stored and transported safely at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.)

The evolution of virtual power plants is driving further innovative energy solutions, expanding the range of energy sources from conventional solar to include hydrogen. Looking ahead, smart microgrid systems are likely to integrate hydrogen energy applications—a move that represents not only a technological breakthrough but also a crucial step toward achieving an entirely green energy future. Such innovations will address the stability of energy supply and help us reach even loftier targets on the path to 100% green energy.

As SunShine Electric leads the transition to an all-green future, it is not only showcasing its technological prowess but also emphasizing the critical importance of information security and decentralization. With the development of decentralized virtual power plants, households are poised to become key contributors to energy production—a transformation that presents both a formidable challenge to Taiwan's existing energy policies and a promising opportunity for sustainable development. SunShine Electric remains committed to advancing green energy solutions and looks forward to a near future in which truly free-flowing energy becomes a reality.