CIRES & Green Energy & Environment Research Laboratories(GEL) ITRI Team Exchange

Date: 2022.07.22

Site: Small meeting room of College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography

Manager Bing-Shun Huang and the ITRI environmental and social audit team visited CIRES in the hope that CIRES members could join the environmental and social audit committee, be invited to serve as review members, and participate in the special consultation meeting on solar photovoltaic environmental and social audit topics or mechanisms based on their expertise. Therefore, both parties discussed the design of the current environmental and social audit mechanism.

The environmental and social review for fishery-electricity symbiosis is a rapid screening mechanism that designates pilot zones, priority zones, and mitigation zones based on environmental and social issues. The responsiveness of environmental issue identification currently doesn't factor in a response timeframe. Furthermore, it's crucial to consider whether photovoltaic installations will attract dominant bird species like starlings, sparrows, and pigeons, potentially displacing existing inhabitants. Furthermore, the environmental review mechanism doesn't involve environmental agencies, resulting in relatively loose standards and procedures for the entire mechanism. While the sensitivity and responsiveness of identified issues are qualitative, although they undergo expert evaluation, the lack of a quantitative standard makes them difficult to assess and compare. Limited data availability means that no species, habitat, or ecosystem can be scientifically quantified in this way in the near future.

Although photovoltaic companies choose to develop in mitigation zones based on land acquisition, the wishes of fish farmers, and local feeder conditions, now that pilot and priority zones have been identified, environmental and social assessments should still have mechanisms to encourage companies to choose these areas, such as collaborating with Taipower to help resolve feeder and capacity issues.

Current policy dictates that photovoltaic power generation can only be implemented if aquaculture is already in place. This argument is based on maintaining existing production. However, from a national perspective, policymakers must consider how much aquaculture production Taiwan truly requires. If photovoltaic power generation technology can help reduce pollution and water consumption, it could actually have positive benefits. The Ministry of Agriculture must maintain a 30% food self-sufficiency rate and prioritize agricultural land use. Environmental and social review mechanisms can capture the perspectives of most aquaculture operators. When documents of intent to participate are submitted, a comprehensive blueprint can be provided to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Fisheries Agency. The perspectives of local owners and fishermen can be captured, allowing for concrete discussions on the necessary aquaculture production capacity.