Balancing Community & Sustainability In The Renewable Energy Era
Agarwal on the role of community engagement in advancing renewable energy projects without compromising local well-being
The world stands at a turning point -- transitioning from the fossil fuel-powered present to a future fuelled by the sun and wind. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) paints a compelling picture: 86 per cent of all new power capacity added in 2023 came from renewable sources.
This momentum recently received a further boost at COP28, where world leaders pledged to triple the global renewable energy capacity to at least 11,000 GW by 2030.
These are ambitious goals, demanding vast landscapes for solar farms, wind turbines, and transmission lines. However, land is a finite resource, and the journey towards a sustainable future cannot come at the cost of displacing communities or compromising environmental integrity.
The NRSS-29 Project
Engaging local stakeholders in open discussions throughout a project’s lifecycle is essential. This ensures their concerns are heard and addressed, fostering trust, and avoiding disruptions.
A case in point is the Northern Region Strengthening Scheme (NRSS)-29 project in Kashmir. This project involved building 414-km-long power lines across the treacherous terrain of Kashmir Valley.
A public-private partnership and India's largest private transmission project at the time, NRSS-29 faced the challenges of complex terrain and a sensitive social environment. That said, the project recognised compensation as a critical factor that required an innovative approach to gain the locals’ trust. Traditionally, land and crop compensation for infrastructure projects were fixed at outdated rates.
The project recognised this niggling issue and went about getting it replaced by government-mandated fixed rates with private negotiation committees allowing for fairer compensation based on the current market value. Landowners were formally invited to meetings in their own districts, fostering a sense of importance and open communication. Negotiated rates were reportedly generous, ensuring landowners felt fairly compensated for their land and crops. Over a hundred meetings were held across ten districts to ensure no community felt neglected.
Not only this, by establishing open communication channels with all stakeholder groups, the project team was able to effectively manage expectations and dispel misconceptions. This collaborative approach resulted in widespread public buy-in, with not a single protest hindering progress. Consequently, the project was completed ahead of schedule and now delivers reliable power to over 12.5 million people in the Kashmir Valley, particularly those previously facing winter blackouts.
From Engagement to Impact
Another inspiring example of building people-positive engagement comes from the Sarna community in Jharkhand. A transmission line project traversed the land of this small, indigenous community with roughly 5 million inhabitants, known for fiercely preserving their land. The project route threatened the oldest tree in the village, considered sacred by the community.
The project team worked closely with community leaders to find an alternative solution. This collaborative approach involved conducting respectful rituals to ensure their traditions were honoured. The transparent process and community ownership model fostered trust and transformed the community from mere landowners to active participants in the project.
People-positive is the way forward
As the clean energy transition unfolds, bringing communities along on this journey is not just essential, it's imperative. While there's no single "one size fits all" approach, the overarching principle should be to prioritise and safeguard the well-being and social structures of the communities involved. It is about co-creating a future where both environmental sustainability and community prosperity are interwoven.
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