11th February 2022 – Solar Panel Governance Second Workshop Conclusions
NDHU CIRES promotes to bring ground-mounted solar power panels to the direction of the integration and sustainable governance of socio-ecological system in Taiwan. Currently, the team has started carrying out relevant research work and organizing a series of workshops regarding this issue. Second workshop of the series – Ground-mounted Solar Power Panels Governance in Taiwan, was held at GIS Taipei Tech Convention Center on 11th February 2022 (Friday). The purpose of the workshop series was to identify the gaps in the governance of ground solar panels in Taiwan, as well as urgently establish various regulations, systems, knowledge and technologies.
National Solar Panel Space Planning and Inventory and Public Participation were the two discussion topics mentioned during the workshop. Twenty (20) participants including scholars, NGO representatives and experts joined the in-depth discussions; conclusions with mutual understanding were made at the end of the event.
During the first session (National Solar Panel Space Planning and Inventory), the meeting group has concluded that they suggest encouraging energy and agricultural division to carry out projects such as energy facility space planning in response to the possible conflicts of other departments. Certain land use change planning is needed if ground-mounted solar panels are being developed in specialized zones; however, solar panels are allowed to get developed in non-specialized zones. As for agricultural division, they should establish allowance regulations and extend acreage to develop multi-purpose land use; also, they should establish solar panel construction guidelines to ensure land restoration. During the second session (Public Participation), the meeting group has concluded to amend Renewable Energy Development Act in order to implement public participation for renewable energy development related matters.
Through the workshop series, CIRES will continue to deepen the knowledge integration and discussion of various issues. These knowledge and discussions will be the foundation in forming the social dialogues, policies and action plans in the future; this is to achieve the goal of Taiwan working toward net-zero transformation by 2050 with the principles of justice and transition.
Professor Hsing-Sheng Tai from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Studies of National Dong Hwa University served as the moderator during the workshop, welcoming all participants.