The future of Community Renewable Energy for electricity access in rural Central America

Governance in energy democracy for Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges and opportunities for partnerships at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec

“…Past research on Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Scotland indicates that community RE models lead to positive community attitudes toward wind energy (Toke, Breukers, & Wolsink, 2008 ; Weinrub & Giancatarino, 2015 ). In addition, mutual trust and cooperation with communities can give MNEs a competitive advantage because certain communities have knowledge or resources that MNEs require (Doh et al, 2017 ; Madriz-Vargas, Bruce, & Watt, 2018 ). However, a lack of governance in energy democracy may hinder opportunities for community participation (Sovacool & Dworkin, 2015 ; Szulecki, 2018 ).…”

“…Energy reforms in Mexico for decentralized RE could encourage partnerships among wind firms, investors, and local communities. Community RE models, such as those implemented in Latin America or Asia, could serve as a rationale for policymaking (Madriz-Vargas et al, 2018 ; Sovacool, 2013 ). European businesses and governments that have implemented community RE models could be a source of inspiration for new wind investments in developed and emerging markets.…”

Evaluating the Use of Renewable Energy and Communal Governance Systems for Climate Change Adaptation

“…Investing in and implementing community-based renewable energy systems has been identified as a key solution to climate change as well as meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (IRENA 2019, Ley 2017, Madriz-Vargas et al 2018. While contributions of RE interventions for climate mitigation (through emissions reduction) and sustainable development (through improved energy access, poverty reduction, and cascading effects on education and quality of life) have been widely assessed, implications for climate change adaptation have received relatively less attention (Ley 2017, Venema andRehman 2007).…”

“…While contributions of RE interventions for climate mitigation (through emissions reduction) and sustainable development (through improved energy access, poverty reduction, and cascading effects on education and quality of life) have been widely assessed, implications for climate change adaptation have received relatively less attention (Ley 2017, Venema andRehman 2007). More recently, empirical evidence on the role of RE for adaptation is growing: for example, decentralized RE can facilitate disaster recovery by provision of electricity (Ley 2017), RE generation in communities can support local services such as health and water facilities, telecommunication, and enable livelihood diversification (Madriz-Vargas et al 2018). What is less understood is how RE performance is mediated by local institutions and power dynamics and the implications of these governance structures and processes on adaptation to climate change.…”

“…Following global trends towards decentralized, community-based energy provision, national governments in the region have experimented with mini grids, solar energy, biogas etc. (Madriz-Vargas et al 2018). In Guatemala, the site of this research, 67.4% of the country's energy comes from renewable sources (CEPAL 2017), with aim to raise this to 80% by 2027.…”