“Just” Energy Transition

Abstract

To meet the ambitious renewable energy target of 170 GW, India is eyeing its vast solar energy potential. To tap this potential, it needs large swaths of land and massive infrastructure development. Research in the western countries has shown that renewable energy infrastructure developments has led to instances of injustices at local level. In India too, limited scientific research in this area indicates that local communities are invariably bearing the brunt of these developments, resulting into deepening of the existing socio-economic inequities. This research aimed at generating empirical findings by conducting a case study of a utility scale solar park in Maharashtra, India. It uses energy justice framework to reveal the (in)justices that locals in the area have experienced or seen. We interviewed 14 locals from the villages around the solar parks. All interviews were telephonic and were conducted in Marathi. The data was analysed manually using qualitative content analysis techniques. Findings of the case study echo the concerns found in other solar park case studies in India. Locals, especially the poor and uneducated locals who lost access to land as a result of development of solar park, suffered more. Injustice and feelings of unfairness persist among locals when they talk about the jobs, local development, access to energy and additional burdens like risks and responsibilities created due to the solar park. Unjust procedures led to unjust outcomes. Locals were deprived of full and impartial information, local power dynamics influenced decision-making process leading to injustices done to rightful beneficiaries and local voices were ignored during various stages of project operation. Lack of transparency, accountability and participation, changes in resource use, and practices such as political influence, corruption, intimidation were identified as factors causing the injustices in the implementation of solar parks. Most of these factors, however, are systemic and are present across various sectors. Renewable energy projects proved to be no exception!