With fuel combustion to generate electricity and heat accounting for almost half of global carbon emission in 2022 alone, decarbonising the energy sector has become essential if we are to meet global climate goals. Across Asia, countries are addressing this challenge by advancing large-scale renewable energy projects, such as India’s Bhadla Solar Park spanning 5,700 ha and the Monsoon Wind Power Project in Laos, which will include approximately 133 turbines. The Philippines is also contributing to this regional effort, with 178 solar and wind projects – each exceeding 100 megawatts in capacity – either announced or under construction. While these projects play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions, they are also resource-intensive, requiring significant raw materials and land. This raises concerns among local communities near construction sites about who benefits from the energy transition, and who bears its costs.
While the urgency of fast-tracking the global energy transition is undeniable, and many governments across the globe have already enacted laws prioritising and facilitating the development of renewable energy projects, there are drawbacks to fast-tracking such projects. For example, renewable energy projects often take place in conservation areas and, particularly in Southeast Asia, many are developed within biodiversity hotspots. In addition, there is concern that by prioritising energy transition without having adequate safeguards in place, communities that rely heavily on local ecosystems could be sidelined in the development process. This deal narrative takes a look at the Nabas Wind Farm on Panay Island in the Philippines as a case study to highlight these challenges and trade-offs in fast-tracking renewable energy projects.
Authors: Jing Barrios, Nikka Rivera, Christoph Kubitza
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WHAT ARE DEAL NARRATIVES?
Deal narratives are investigations of specific LSLAs by the Land Matrix regional and global partners that provide an in-depth and detailed analysis of single deals in addition to its global database. This deal narrative focuses on Land Matrix deal #10312. By making this information available, the Land Matrix aims to support broad engagement and information exchange, facilitating the continuous improvement of the data. The information on the deals is based on both secondary research and in-depth field research in the region involving the relevant stakeholders.
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