Solar photovoltaic (PV) diffusion and synergies with resilience, adaptation, and sustainable development: A case study in Laguna Lake watershed, the Philippines

Abstract

Solar energy systems, either land- or water-based, have a huge potential for net-zero transition and generate multiple co-benefits despite the possible risks of not being designed or installed properly. Existing literature has revealed both positive and negative impacts of solar photovoltaic (PV) from the viewpoints of engineering design, energy system's stability, environment, and socio-economic aspects. However, little has been known about solar PV's multi-dimensional impacts on resilience of local farmers and fishermen under climate change. To fill this gap, this paper assessed the kinds of positive and negative impacts on resilience that could be generated by land- and water-based solar systems and how various policies could be harmonised to synergise solar energy diffusion, resilience, adaptation, and more broadly, sustainable development. Laguna Lake watershed in the Philippines which is planning the installation of large-scale floating solar PV was selected as a case study site, where focus group discussions were held and the participants' perceived impacts of solar PV were measured. The results suggested that both land- and water-based solar PV were perceived as providing relatively larger co-benefits compared to the potential risks with regards to farmers' income, climate adaptability and green development level including water saving and greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reductions. Both types of solar PV have large co-benefits in the productivity of intermediate inputs, network marketing of agricultural products, production value, infrastructure, and eco-environment, while water saving and GHG emission reduction are unique co-benefits of land-based solar PV. Impacts on sustainable development goals (SDGs) of both types of solar are non-negligible for ending poverty (SDG 1), ending hunger (SDG 2), education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), economic growth and employment (SDG 8), climate actions (SDG 13) and global partnership (SDG 17). Based on these findings, a generic conceptual framework consisting of drivers, policies, actions, local enabling conditions, and outcomes for climate and sustainable development was suggested, which showed how to synergise mitigation and adaptation for the purposes of sustainable development in a just or equitable manner by enhancing local enabling conditions or resilience through a combination of climate and non-climate policies.