Integrating Energy Policy into Spatial Planning Frameworks: a Study of Taiwan's Approach

Taiwan faces the dual challenges of limited land availability and the urgent need to transition to renewable energy in pursuit of its 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target. This study explores how Taiwan can effectively integrate energy policy—particularly solar power development—into its spatial planning system. Despite recent legal advances, such as the 2016 Spatial Planning Act and the subsequent National Spatial Plan (2018), existing mechanisms still fall short in resolving land use conflicts between energy infrastructure and other sectoral priorities. Current energy-related spatial plans often lack specific siting criteria or actionable implementation strategies, especially at the local level. To address this policy gap, the study reviews solar development governance models from four high-density countries—Japan, India, South Korea, and the Netherlands—each demonstrating successful integration of spatial and energy planning. Comparative insights reveal key strategies: Japan emphasizes community-driven implementation within a hierarchical planning system; India promotes state-level autonomy supported by central energy goals; South Korea demonstrates close policy alignment across planning levels; and the Netherlands exemplifies integration through a robust permitting and environmental planning system. The paper argues that Taiwan should establish a more effective framework that enables cross-sectoral coordination, clarifies site selection principles, strengthens local government participation, and encourages multifunctional land use such as agrivoltaics. It highlights the opportunity presented by Taiwan’s upcoming revision of county and municipal spatial plans, as well as the development of the Solar Power Land Use White Paper, to embed spatial considerations more concretely into renewable energy strategies. Ultimately, the study concludes that a successful integration model must include clear spatial guidance, legal mechanisms for coordination, adaptive policy tools, and stakeholder engagement processes. These recommendations serve not only to improve Taiwan’s internal planning coherence but also to contribute to global knowledge on renewable energy integration in densely populated, land-constrained contexts.