Geothermal Energy Development in Taiwan

• In Event: Environmental and Gender Politics in Taiwan

Abstract

While the development of renewable technology signifies a significant step in responding to the climate crisis, the social acceptance of relevant facilities has been influenced by local political contexts and the democratization process. Scholars argue that the East Asian Developmental State regimes, in which the state-led development model was challenged by democratization, evolved into a form of "developmental environmentalism," aiming to achieve both the goals of energy transition and economic growth. We use the case of Taiwanese geothermal energy development to examine how developmental environmentalism works and elaborate on the effectiveness of local public-private partnerships, which play a crucial role in mitigating conflicts and forging consensus. Our findings further contribute to enhancing the discourse on community renewable energy and energy democracy. We explore alternative business models and social innovations that can effectively address conflicts arising from the legacy of pre-democratization developmental strategies and post-democratization political inclusiveness. Additionally, we depict the potential embodiment of the agents in charge of networking technology, environments, and social conditions to reduce risks and uncertainties.

Authors

• Jou Fei Huang, Academia Sinica

• Yun-Chung Ting, Academia Sinica