One-fifth of Fenglin township area may coverd by photovoltaic panels. National Dong Hwa University has launched an environmental impact survey

The number of photovoltaic projects currently under application and approved in Fenglin Township, Hualien, is estimated to exceed 2,000 hectares, representing one-fifth of Fenglin Township's area. The College of Environmental Studies and Oceanography (CESO) at National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) has been awarded a grant from the National Science and Technology Council to conduct at least three years of ground-based photovoltaic research. This will include a preliminary environmental survey before and after the establishment of photovoltaic industry, as well as socioeconomic impacts and resident feedback. A discussion was held today in Fenglin Township. Professor Hsing-Sheng Tai of NDHU believes that this basic environmental survey is crucial in order to compare environmental changes before, during, and after ground-based photovoltaic development.

CESO at NDHU held a ground-based photovoltaic research seminar in Fenglin Township, hoping to establish an information exchange platform.

(Photo by Meng-Jing Hua)

Professor I-Fang Sun of NDHU believes the government's rapid and hasty promotion of solar photovoltaics has resulted in a lack of information transparency and openness. The public has complained about being unable to access the status of applications from businesses in the early stages of development. Since environmental impact assessments are not required, the impacts of solar photovoltaics on forests, farmland, and the environment are being questioned by businesses and concerned residents. He believes that the development of ground-based photovoltaics requires more than just location; it also requires assessing the impact on ecosystem services at the landscape scale.

He gave an example, citing the mosaic landscape of abandoned farmland, watermelon orchards, settlements, and forests in rural areas before the installation of photovoltaic plants. For example, ring-necked pheasants migrated along the forest edge, and bees from their hives in the forest flew over cultivated fields to help pollinate crops. However, photovoltaic plants inevitably altered animal behavior. He believes that decentralized photovoltaic installations could mitigate the impact on the local ecosystem. He hopes to identify the key causes and mitigate ecological impacts through data collection and analysis.

Professor Hsing-Sheng Tai pointed out that the "Center for Interdisciplinary Research for Ecology and Sustainablity" jointly established by seven professors from the CESO of the university began to focus on ground photovoltaic field areas, non-photovoltaic uses later converted to photovoltaic plants, and maintained original forests or farmland in August last year. The three different land use types were tracked and basic ecological monitoring data were collected through automatic camera traps, recorders, thermometers, etc. over a long period of time, including nectar plant surveys. Only in the future can we compare the impact of photovoltaic fields on the land environment and bee pollination.

Liberty Times News:

One-fifth of Fenglin township area may coverd by photovoltaic panels. National Dong Hwa University has launched an environmental impact survey

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