Pastoralism and large-scale REnewable energy and green-hydrogen projects: potential & threats
A study commissioned by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Germany, looks into how large-scale solar- and wind-power and green-hydrogen projects affect pastoralists in the drylands. It seeks to highlight this growing challenge so that: i) policymakers and civil society can shape the expansion of producing renewables in the drylands so that it does no harm; and ii) pastoralists can become better prepared to deal with this expansion, and could even benefit from it.
The report gives a short overview of the current situation, trends and perspectives in generating solar and wind energy in the drylands globally. Special attention is given to issues around rights of land tenure and use. This provides the context for studying the challenges and opportunities for pastoralists faced with the expansion of green-energy production in the drylands for public and commercial benefit.
Selected cases are presented of experiences made by pastoralists in interaction with green-energy projects. The focus is on Africa, but also cases from other parts of the world are reviewed. Information on the co-existence of pastoralism and renewable-energy generation in some parts of the world shows how pastoralists might be able to benefit from this.
The report provides some recommendations for avoiding conflict and enabling multifunctional land use in ways that recognise the rights of pastoralists to access natural resources and energy as well as the opportunities for society at large to access renewable energy. It offers initial ideas as to how pastoralists could have a fair share of the benefits created from renewable-energy generation on their traditional land.
The authors of the report come from Agrecol Association (Germany) and the Centre for Research & Development in Drylands (Kenya), both members of the Coalition of European Lobbies for Eastern African Pastoralism (CELEP)
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