Energy communities in sustainable transitions - The South American Case

Abstract

Energy communities (ECs) have become an attractive scholarly target in the last years since they promote more sustainable, democratic, and decentralized electrical systems. Thus, a new research line around the alignments established by the European Union (EU) has arisen. Nevertheless, Latin American initiatives and academic works still lack a standard distinctness, being widely spread, despite commonalities. This study examines regional projects from a critical perspective to fashion a novel framework around South American ECs' experiences. Literature indicates a variety of cases in the region, primarily off-grid isolated ventures that satisfy basic human needs, employing hydropower, solar, wind, biomass, and biogas technologies. Notably, Brazil indicates more profound advancements in on-grid ECs within urban settlements.

Socio-Ecological Controversies from Chilean and Brazilian Sustainable Energy Transitions

“…An energy community (EC) is a group of citizens producing, managing, and using their energy locally, customarily, in a distributed modality, based on renewable sources, and occasionally applying energy conservation/efficiency methods/technologies [2]. As an alternative to centralised and property-closed traditional energy systems, ECs might redistribute the social power over energy systems as it empowers the prosumers as collective actors, reinforcing the democratisation of systems [76,77].…”

“…As an alternative to centralised and property-closed traditional energy systems, ECs might redistribute the social power over energy systems as it empowers the prosumers as collective actors, reinforcing the democratisation of systems [76,77]. Thus, several challenges and opportunities emerge, including resource management, human and environmental synergic well-being, regulation improvements, and the reinforcing of territorialism and cultures [2]. Consequently, with bottom-up collective small-size projects, the path to sustainable development and post-carbon economies might be viable without compromising on justice for all.…”

“…In the Chilean case, since 2018, the legislation for residential power generation provides an institutional definition of collective owners of NCRE or efficient cogeneration infrastructure smaller than 300 kW. In Brazil's case, since 2015, shared generation allows the injection of surplus energy by a cooperative or consortium of consumers into the same concession area, using renewable sources or quality cogeneration smaller than 5 MW (except hydropower, which can be smaller than 3 MW) [2].…”

“…Some of the main challenges to sustainable energy transition are related to decarbonisation, digitalisation, democracy, decentralisation, and justice. A just transition combines energy with climate and environmental justice, being a fair, equitable process towards a post-carbon society [1,2] and minimising adverse social, environmental, or economic impacts [3]. Two global parameters regarding the sustainable path are the Paris Agreement and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contained in Agenda 2030, which cover the environment, economy, and society as its main pillars.…”

Condições institucionais para o desenvolvimento das comunidades energéticas no Chile e no Brasil

“…This goes beyond a sustainable sense and is often not a choice but the sole option. Note that South American EC projects (on-grid and off-grid) have assumed the format of cooperatives, small private companies, or they have remained managed by bodies at the state or municipal level Viglio;Ferreira, 2022).…”