However, climate change seems not to be the main reason for the pursuit of RE development by these countries.

For example, biofuel development in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand is driven mainly by the need for energy security and socio-economic development [30], while air quality considerations seem not to be the objective of the introduction of climate policy in Vietnam [100].
However, climate change seems not to be the main reason for the pursuit of RE development by these countries. For example, biofuel development in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand is driven mainly by the need for energy security and socio-economic development [30], while air quality considerations seem not to be the objective of the introduction of climate policy in Vietnam [100].

Renewable Energy Development in Southeast Asia:

A Review on Trade-offs with Environment and Nature Conservation
Santi Pratiwi1,2 and Nataly Jürges1
1Chair Group of Forest and Nature Conservation Policy, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
2Central Java Nature Conservation Office, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Jl.Solo Gawok, Baki, Sukoharjo, 57556, Central Java, Indonesia

Contact: spratiw@gwdg.de

Introduction Research Area Methods

• Renewable energy is a global solution for the prevention of the This paper reviewed scientific literature on the topic using different
negative impact of climate change that is caused by the use of non- keywords and database sources.
renewable energy for energy generation. There are four category of keywords:
• Almost all countries in Southeast Asia have high potential of • Renewable energy, bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, solar
renewable energy, but it has accounted only 26% of the total power, wind power, biomass, biogas and biofuel;
energy demand in form of hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal and • Conflicts, trade-offs, impacts, problem, land use change;
bioenergy by 2016 (IEA, 2017). • Nature conservation, biodiversity, nature protection, forest,
• Nevertheless, there are many discussion on how renewable energy environment;
development affect the environment and nature conservation • Location: Southeast Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor / Timor
worldwide. Leste, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
• This review paper looks at the trade-offs between renewable Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and ASEAN.
energy development with environment and nature conservation in We used Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Journal Directory as
Southeast Asia. our searching platforms.
• It will show the importance of balancing the trade-offs with good Of 262 papers, 105 papers were cited in this paper due to their
planning and strong policy implementation to harmonize the goals relevance with the review topic.
of renewable energy development and nature conservation. Figure 1. Renewable Energy Potential in Southeast Asia

Results Challenges
Type Air GHG Water Hydrological Landslide/ Soil pollution / Deforestation Habitat loss / Biodiversity
Pollution Emissions Pollution change Soil Erosion change Fragmentation Loss
To move forward along the path of RE, it is necessary to identify the
(flooding, challenges related to trade-offs between environmental and nature
drought, conservation and RE development in Southeast Asia.
sedimentation, • Financial Challenges
etc.)
As developing countries, there is still limited financial resources in
Southeast Asia. This has attracted many donors to support which then
Hydro √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
caused dependency and unsustainability of renewable energy project
Wind ? X X X X X ? ? ?
(Marquardt, 2014).
Solar X √ X X X X ? ? ?
• Technical Challenges
Geothermal √ X √ √ √ √ √ √ √
The effect of limited financial resources will cause minimum
infrastructure and advanced technology for high quality of renewable
Biomass √ √ √ √ X √ √ √ √
energy equipment and tools. Low quality and efficiency of equipment
Biogas √ √ X X X √ X X X
Biofuel √ √ √ √ X √ √ √ √
might cause higher environmental damage.
• Institutional Challenges
Notes:
√ : Existing evidence and theoretical link
There is still gaps in the legal framework and regulation related
? : Theoretical link but no existing evidence in this research area renewable energy development in some of Southeast Asian countries.
X : No evidence found Inadequate policies will lead to trade-offs with environment and nature
conservation.
The Environmental Concern The Nature Conservation Concern • Social Challenges
Lack of scientific studies and update databases on the development of
An important reason for the development of renewable energy is the In terms of nature conservation, this could lead to a loss of biodiversity, renewable energy could also make knowledge gaps in the planning
desire to protect the environment. While it is in general less pollutive habitat destruction (Urban et al., 2018) and a loss of terrestrial and process. There are still rejection toward renewable project regarding
than fossil fuels at their point of use, environmental impact can be high aquatic habitats, which increases pressure on wildlife populations that the concern for its environmental impact, for example in the project of
at other stages in the life cycle of the system (Quek et al., 2018). are dependent on these habitats (Blake et al., 2019). hydropower in Vietnam and geothermal in Indonesia
• Solar Power • Hydropower
In Singapore, solar power can produce Human Toxicity Potential (HTP) The most relevant impact from hydropower are deforestation (Sovacool References
during the manufacturing stage of the solar panels (Quek et al., 2018). & Bulan, 2012), habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss in form of 1. Arias ME, Cochrane TA, Kummu M, Lauri H, Holtgrieve GW, Koponen J et al. Impacts of
The use of double glazed window and colored tinted modules in endangered animals and protected plants (Keong, 2005). Hydropower hydropower and climate change on drivers of ecological productivity of Southeast Asia's most
important wetland. Ecological Modelling 2014;272:252–63.
building integrated photovoltaics also produces more greenhouse gas also can change the natural systems of riverine ecosystems changing 2. Ashat A, Ardiansyah F. Igniting the ring of fire: A vision for developing Indonesia's geothermal
emissions (Ng & Mithraratne, 2014). the seasonal flow (Intralawan et al., 2018), natural food chains and power. [Jakarta]: WWF-Indonesia; 2012.
• Bioenergy fishery productivity (Arias et al., 2014). 3. Blake DJH. A Review of the Nam Theun 2 Environmental Assessment and Management Plan
(EAMP) as it pertains to impacts on Xe Bang Fai Fisheries. 2005. International River
The combustion of wood, agricultural and animal waste triggered air • Bioenergy Organizations.
pollution (Shafie et al., 2011), acidification and eutrophication of land Bioenergy in the form of biofuel production from oil palm, is highly 4. Dang TD, Cochrane TA, Arias ME, van Tri PD. Future hydrological alterations in the Mekong
Delta under the impact of water resources development, land subsidence and sea level rise.
(Quek et al., 2018). The conversion of land use for biofuel production debated as the reason behind deforestation, biodiversity loss, peat land Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 2018;15:119–33.
also contributes 15-25% to global carbon emissions. In the case of drainage and wildlife extinction (Obidzinski et al., 2012). The loss of 5. Gagnon L, Vate JF. Greenhouse gas emission from hydropower. Energy Policy 1997;25,
No.1:7–13
Indonesia and Malaysia, where the oil palm plantation used to be a biodiversity and habitat will also lead to land conflicts and poverty from 6. IEA - International Energy Agency. Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2017: World Energy Outlook
peat swamp forest, the carbon debt becomes higher (Tonks et al., the loss of means of livelihood. Special Report. France; 2017.
7. Intralawan A, Wood D, Frankel R, Costanza R, Kubiszewski I. Tradeoff analysis between
2017). Furthermore, these can lead into environmental pollution in form • Geothermal Power electricity generation and ecosystem services in the Lower Mekong Basin. Ecosystem Services
of air and water pollution. Up to 42% of potential geothermal resources (more than 12GW) in 2018;30:27–35.
• Hydropower Indonesia are located in protected forest areas. The assessment of 8. Jago-on KAB, Siringan FP, Balangue-Tarriela R, Taniguchi M, Reyes YK, Lloren R et al. Hot
spring resort development in Laguna Province, Philippines: Challenges in water use regulation.
For decades, the hydropower project along Mekong River basin has geothermal power plant in National Park showed that there is a habitat Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 2017;11:96–106.
altered the riverine ecosystems, water quality and quantity (Dang et al., and terrestrial ecosystem loss causing by fragmentation (Ashat & 9. Keong CY. Energy demand, economic growth, and energy efficiency—the Bakun dam-induced
sustainable energy policy revisited. Energy Policy 2005;33(5):679–89.
2018), and reservoir sediment (Arias et al., 2014). Large hydropower Ardiansyah, 2012). The process of well testing may result in temporary 10. Kumar S, Shrestha P, Abdul Salam P. A review of biofuel policies in the major biofuel producing
plants also emit significant amounts of greenhouse gas emission during vegetation damage due to high salinity as a consequence of countries of ASEAN: Production, targets, policy drivers and impacts. Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Reviews 2013;26:822–36.
construction work (Gagnon & Vate, 1997). geothermal brine sprays (Tuyor et al. 2005). 11. Marquardt J, Steinbacher K, Schreurs M. Driving force or forced transition? Journal of Cleaner
• Geothermal Power Production 2016;128:22–33.
12. Ng PK, Mithraratne N. Lifetime performance of semi-transparent building-integrated photovoltaic
The construction of geothermal power plant trigger soil erosion, air
pollution and changes in water quality (Slamet & Moelyono, 2000). The Policy Implication (BIPV) glazing systems in the tropics. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
2014;31:736–45.
geothermal potential as hot spring area can also damage the 13. Obidzinski K, Andriani R, Komarudin H, Andrianto A. Environmental and Social Impacts of Oil
Palm Plantations and their Implications for Biofuel Production in Indonesia. E&S 2012;17(1).
environment by decreasing groundwater quantity and quality (Jago et Global problems, like climate change and resource scarcity, are leading 14. Shafie SM, Mahlia TMI, Masjuki HH, Andriyana A. Current energy usage and sustainable energy
al. 2017). to the replacement of energy resources from fossil fuels by RE. In order in Malaysia: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2011;15(9):4370–7.
15. Slamet U, Moelyono DG (eds.). Maximizing community benefits and minimizing environmental
to foster this change, countries develop regulations, policies, plans, and impacts in the Gunung Salak Geothermal Project, Indonesia; 2000
Conclusion supporting mechanisms. 16. Sovacool BK, Bulan LC. Behind an ambitious megaproject in Asia: The history and implications
of the Bakun hydroelectric dam in Borneo. Energy Policy 2011;39(9):4842–59.
However, climate change seems not to be the main reason for the 17. Tonks AJ, Aplin P, Beriro DJ, Cooper H, Evers S, Vane CH et al. Impacts of conversion of
• There are trade-offs between renewable energy development with pursuit of RE development by these countries. For example, biofuel tropical peat swamp forest to oil palm plantation on peat organic chemistry, physical properties
development in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand is driven and carbon stocks. Geoderma 2017;289:36–45
environment and nature conservation. 18. Tran T, Fujimori S, Masui T. Realizing the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution: The
• The most negative impact derived from hydropower plant, biofuel mainly by the need for energy security and socio-economic Role of Renewable Energies in Vietnam. Energies 2016;9(8):587.

production and geothermal power plant. development (Kumar et al., 2013). In Vietnam there is confusion about 19. Tuyor JB, Jesus AC de, Medrano RS, Garcia JRD, Salinio SM, Santos LS. Impact of geothermal
well testing on exposed vegetation in the Northern Negros Geothermal Project, Philippines.
• Renewable energy development also faces financial, technical, the overlapping strategies for green growth, sustainable development, Geothermics 2005;34(2):252–65.

institutional and social challenges, including policy implication and tackling climate change, including competing policies that favor 20. Urban F, Siciliano G, Wallbott L, Lederer M, Dang Nguyen A. Green transformations in
Vietnam's energy sector. Asia Pac Policy Stud 2018;5(3):558–82.
related to these trade-offs. different stakeholders' interests (Urban et al., 2018). In fact, Brunei and 21. Quek A, Ee A, Ng A, Wah TY. Challenges in Environmental Sustainability of renewable energy
• Government commitment and intervention in the formulation and Singapore do not even have mechanisms to promote renewable options in Singapore. Energy Policy 2018;122:388–94.

implementation of integrated policies will be helpful in harmonizing energy development, probably due to minimum RE sources. An
the goals of renewable energy development with environment and appropriate energy policy, with a strong deployment of renewable This work was supported by:
nature conservation. energy, could minimize the challenges and make climate change
mitigation policy more feasible (Tran et al., 2016).

www.meteconferences.org