SiteRight launched for better Siting choices for Solar and...

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Nature Conservancy along with Vasudha Foundation, Center for Science, Technology and Policy, and Foundation for Ecological Security, have invented a new tool called SiteRight which will support decision-makers make the right siting choices. The tool can help meet India’s renewable energy goals while avoiding adverse impacts to environment and people, the Nature Conservancy announced on its website.

SiteRight will identify areas where solar and wind development is less likely to encounter socio-ecological conflicts, thereby helping reduce project delays and cost overruns. It will use the best available information to support early screening and inform siting decisions.

The tool which is not intended to replace the need for a site-level assessment of impacts or consult relevant agencies before making siting decisions was launched at the New York Climate Week 2020 being held from September 21 - 27, 2020.

As per study conducted by Nature Conservancy and the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, India can meet its renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2022 by more than 10 times by placing renewable energy infrastructure on lower impact lands. However, if maximizing energy production is the singular aim for RE projects, more than 11,900 km² of forest and 55,700 km² of agricultural land could be impacted.

Rapid deployment of renewable energy is critical for India to meet its rising energy demand while mitigating climate change. Without careful planning, renewable energy’s relatively larger footprint – typically 3 to 12 times that of coal powered energy generation – can adversely impact people and biodiversity, creating land conflicts that will jeopardize investments and slow renewable energy expansion.