From Energyscape To Energy Justice: Rethink Approaches For A Just Energy Transition: Revitalize the neglected regions through integrated planning: a case study in Changhua, Taiwan

Abstract

Taiwanese landscape has dramatically changed since 2018, when the Energy Transition White Paper was published. Due to the land limitation, the Taiwanese government has focused on the multifunctional use of land to create renewable energy and maintain the original activities on the ground at the same time, especially on agricultural lands. However, realistic situations are far from the ideal proposed. Tons of aquacultural and agricultural lands have become fragmented, damaging the landscape and even causing hidden threats: farmers’ work rights losses, food security issues, and ecosystem hazards. The reason for these derivative problems is complicated and cannot be blamed on a single factor. But the key argument in this thesis is because of the lack of integration of spatial and social perspectives in energy transition programs. Therefore, energy justice in this thesis focuses on the discussion of the derivative problems led by the consequence of neglected perspectives in the energy transition. From a spatial perspective, Taiwan currently has three separate spatial planning systems, urban, regional, and national park planning systems. Each of them follows different laws and manages the land use type in its own way. Due to the development-oriented planning, some land use types have more flexibility and looser regulation in terms of construction. And due to this fact, energy developers work with landowners to apply for changes in land use from aquaculture or agriculture to specific land uses to generate the most renewable energy, losing the purpose of multifunctional use and resulting in absurd landscape changes. More specifically, the lack of holistic spatial planning and the integration with the energy transition plan makes responsibility unclear that causing collaboration between sectors more difficult. The systemic deficiency has led to social consequences with the injustice mentioned above that have yet to have specific orders and measures to be addressed, exacerbating the public's untrust of the energy transition. In 2025, a new integrated planning system called National Spatial Planning will be implemented as a holistic spatial planning system. It merges current planning systems and includes the marine spatial area. Thus, this thesis chose Changhua County, an area with high renewable energy development but huge hidden threats in various domains, as the case study area to test how to integrate this new spatial planning system based on purposes of different zoning with energy strategies that include spatial and social aspects. There are three products in this thesis. First, the energyscape template design demonstrates how to prevent hidden threats and create procedural and distributional justice based on the considerations of societal factors that influence people’s acceptance of the energy transition. Second, regional strategies with spatial and social perspectives to examine value creation that rebalances regional development, bringing back identities to uncompetitive areas that are neglected or sacrificed within the energy transition process. Lastly, developing National energy transition advice, operational or strategic, to help create a justice energy transition in Taiwan.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Complex Citie