Abstract
In this paper, we assess the sustainability of rural electrification programs in Ecuador, paying special attention to programs targeting small indigenous communities in the Amazon basin. Our assessment considers four dimensions of sustainability (institutional, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural) and is based on an exhaustive qualitative document analysis, complemented by semi-structured expert interviews. We found that disruptive changes have affected the electrification policies in Ecuador during decades of avoiding the development of strengthened institutions. Despite this major drawback, we found that there is a consensus on granting access to energy for all. This partially explains the national efforts, persistent through different administrations to fund rural electrification. However, in the case of off-grid photovoltaic solutions, these efforts have consistently neglected allocating funds for operation and maintenance, which has seriously compromised the sustainability. Moreover, although Ecuadorian officials declared to favor stand-alone photovoltaic systems in the case of indigenous communities in the Amazon, we found that environmental or socio-cultural aspects have a minor role in the selection of these systems. Progress regarding environmental awareness, social acceptance, and cultural justice, is still needed for ensuring the sustainability of rural electrification efforts in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Highlights
IntroductionIn 2013, about 1.2 billion people (i.e., 17% of the global population) did not have access to electricity [1] The lack of access to energy is mainly a rural issue (e.g., while in 2012 the global urban electrification rate reached 94%, the rural electrification rate constituted only 68% [1])
In 2013, about 1.2 billion people (i.e., 17% of the global population) did not have access to electricity [1] The lack of access to energy is mainly a rural issue. it was not explicitly declared a goal, the access to energy was already considered a key factor for achieving the eight Millennium goals [2]
Since 1998, efforts targeting small indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon basin included off-grid PV systems. This type of solution may be suitable for semi-nomad indigenous communities in the Amazon Basin, we found that environmental and socio-cultural aspects appear to have a minor role in explaining the choice for Renewable Energy (RE) solutions
Summary
In 2013, about 1.2 billion people (i.e., 17% of the global population) did not have access to electricity [1] The lack of access to energy is mainly a rural issue (e.g., while in 2012 the global urban electrification rate reached 94%, the rural electrification rate constituted only 68% [1]). It was not explicitly declared a goal, the access to energy was already considered a key factor for achieving the eight Millennium goals [2]. The emphasis given to RE can be tracked back to the Agenda 21 in Rio in 1992, which highlighted the need of reliable and affordable access to clean energy, and the environmental soundness to be accomplished [5].
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