Property rights arrangement and stakeholder networks hindering floating photovoltaics: A case of private open-access ponds in Taiwan

The floating photovoltaic (FPV) system is being promoted in Taiwan to help transition towards zero nuclear energy production. One plan involved installation on 300 artificial irrigation reservoirs in Taoyuan. It was stalled several times and eventually stopped. Through semi-structured group interviews, observation, transcribed audio-taped meetings, and document analysis, a stakeholder network was constructed to understand the institutional arrangement and find the root causes of the problem. The study investigated the network of resource users and managers including solar power companies, central energy provider, pond owners, informal users, environmental groups and government agencies. Apart from inadequate stakeholder participation, it was found that the problem was exacerbated by the private open-access arrangement and the complex governance structure, which made property rights unclear. These considerations highlight the importance of transaction costs associated with social dynamics and multilevel governance, which must be considered in feasibility studies. This paper also argues that initiatives viewed as a failure can nevertheless pave the way for future renewable energy projects by legally clarifying property rights and offering test sites for an objective FPV cost-benefit assessment, which can inform analytic-deliberative discourse for exploring potential compromise solutions. The lessons here can inform similar projects abroad, especially in land-scarce water-rich territories.