In order to speed up the remediation of agricultural land pollution and cooperate with the solar photovoltaic implementation policy of the Executive Yuan, with the consideration of protecting environmental health and safety as well as the landowners' rights and interests, the Ministry of Environment plans to promote the
installation of solar photovoltaic facilities on contaminated land. It is expected to accelerate the remediation of contamination and to increase the country's renewable energy capacity at the same time. The policy shall achieve a win-win situation for all parties. In line with the policy direction of increasing renewable energy power generation, the Ministry of Environment has formulated the "Operation Principles for Review of Solar Photovoltaic Facilities on Contaminated Land" to establish the scope of application and applications for the diverse utilization directions of contaminated land combining with the development of solar photovoltaics.
operating procedures. This study conducted an inventory of the willingness to install solar photovoltaic facilities at domestic agricultural land-contaminated sites and industrial-contaminated sites. Regarding contaminated agricultural land, in order to increase the willingness of land owners to participate, the Ministry of Environment has also formulated the "Operation Principles for Review of Solar Photovoltaic Facilities on Contaminated Land". The second article in the principle stipulated that the contaminated landrefers to the agricultural land
ontaminated by heavy metals other than mercury. Also, the agricultural land that has been listed as a soil pollution control site or remediation site according to the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act before March 31, 2016. The sites meet the aforementioned conditions shall fit for the review principle and can be included in the scope of application of the local environmental protection agency's sites undergoing econtamination or the agricultural lands have been delisted. For the land applicable to the required conditions, the applicant shall apply to the local environmental protection agency after obtaining the consent of the land owner, and shall ensure that the remediation will not be affected by the installation of solar photovoltaic facilities.
The facilitate this process, the Ministry of Environment engaged in the “The project of Promoting the Installation of Solar Photovoltaic Facilities on Contaminated Land in 2022”. This outcomes and achievement of this study are summarized as follow:
(I) Regarding the promotion for the contaminated agricultural land, the contaminated agricultural land locating at 15 counties and cities with a total area around 1,100 ha, has been inventoried. The agricultural lands of 26.74 ha. have completed in power generation or the application of permit for implementation. Additionally, land owners to agricultural land of 26.74 ha. have expressed their willingness to implementation the solar power
facilities. For the land of not for implementation, the main reasons consists of (1) continuation and maintain the agricultural use by the land owner (501.66 ha or 45.58%); (2) existence of aboveground structure or housing (133.1 ha or 12.09%); (3) existing development plan (152.08 ha or 13.82%) and (4) other plan for the land use (262.25 ha or 23.83%). As for the return of remediation cost spent by the MoENV, the cumulative return payment by the applicants has reached NTD $57,974,306.
(II) As for the promotion of contaminated industrial sites, the second round of inventory for 424 listed industrial sites in 22 counties and cities across the country has been completed. Among the sites investigated, 11 listed industrial sites have high potential for implementation and it is recommended to track the progress of the sites afterward. After re-confirming the willingness and progress of implementation, the amount of power generation may be accommodated as the quota for the MonENV in solar power generation capacity. Also, 2 listed sites have contacted by the photovoltaic developer for evaluation and have been accounted for as the quota of the Ministry of Environment (the amount is 0.58MW); One of the listed sites have been connected to the grid in 2012 and have been included in the generation capacity quota for the Ministry of Environment (the capacity is 0.06MW).
(III) In this study, the team also assisted various units of the Ministry of Environment in conducting counselling visits. The actual installed capacity in 2012 was 32.35MW, and the source capacity affirmed from 2013 to 2014 was 67.11MW.
(IV) In this project works, the survey on wiliness of implementing solar power facility to remediation fund payers, contaminated soil treatment facility, and voluntary managing business sites have been carried out. Seven sites have obtained registration numbers in 2012 with an installation capacity of 26.41MW. On the other hand, two sites are expected to complete the implementation in 2025 with an estimated installed capacity of 0.9MW.
(V)The design and publishing of publicity material for the policies advocation on installation of solar photovoltaic facilities on contaminated sites have been completed. In addition, in order to match agricultural contaminated sites with photovoltaic industry operators to install solar photovoltaic facilities, five matchmaking seminars have been completed. This project also completed 3 discussion meetings with local EPBs and a demonstration exhibition on the planting of shade-bearing products (i.e., ginger).
(VI) There have been 56 inspection and assessment supporting meetings completed. In addition, nine sites of high potential and willingness in solar photovoltaic facility installation and feasibility evaluation operations have completed.
(VII)Complete the study on the procedures for promoting installation of solar photovoltaic facilities on contaminated sites and related supporting measures as well as providing the MoENV with follow-up work planning recommendations.
(VIII)Completed the update and maintenance of the information platform for setting up solar photovoltaic facilities on contaminated sites. A dedicated hotline to provide relevant consulting services for setting up solar photovoltaic facilities on contaminated sites during the execution period has provided throughout the project works.
