The Dream of Empowered Indigenous Communities through Renewable Energy

Image: Peterthoeny/Flickr

The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, celebrated annually on August 9, serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples, including their involvement in decision-making regarding natural resource management and energy use in their territories. For example, in the provision of electricity, indigenous peoples around the world often struggle to access it due to inadequate energy supplies in remote areas. Furthermore, their living spaces are often contested by governments and corporations for energy projects.

 

In many countries, some indigenous communities have developed and managed renewable energy systems by leveraging their knowledge of local territories and resources. Indigenous communities are not only beneficiaries but also decision-makers and managers of energy systems.

 

1. Hydropower in Kasepuhan Gelaralam, Indonesia

 

Utilizing renewable energy is not only about providing electricity, but also recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples to determine how they access electricity according to their needs and environmental conditions.

 

In Mount Halimun Salak National Park, Sukabumi Regency, West Java, the residents of Kasepuhan Gelaralam, formerly known as Ciptagelar, meet their energy needs by harnessing the flow of rivers in the mountainous area through a micro-hydro power plant (PLTMh). Because the area is difficult to access from the state-owned electricity grid, the community developed the PLTMh in 1997.

 

In fact, the use of microhydro power was pioneered in Ciptarasa Village in 1988 by Encup Sucipta, also known as Abah Anom, the traditional leader at the time. At the time, the microhydro power plant relied on a wooden waterwheel, generating electricity to supply dozens of households. However, the project was unsustainable and ultimately stalled for years. In 1997, a more capable microhydro power plant was installed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

 

Energy development in Kasepuhan Gelaralam aligns with customary laws governing forest protection, land use, and natural resource utilization. Protecting the forest for the Kasepuhan Gelaralam community also means maintaining a sustainable water supply for power generation.

 

Kasepuhan Gelaralam currently has four hydroelectric power plants: Cibadak, Ciganas, Cipulus, and Situ Murni. The Cibadak hydroelectric power plant supports 212 households in Ciptagelar, Suka Mulya, and Lebak Manggu. Meanwhile, the Ciganas power plant provides electricity to 100 households in Ciptarasa, Cisigung, and Sirnarasa villages. The Cipulus power plant supplies electricity to 124 households in the heart of Kasepuhan Gelaralam and Lebak Hariang. Electricity generated by Situ Murni has reached 191 households in Cipulus and Cikuluwung.

 

This community-based energy management is not without challenges. Landslides around the dam have blocked water flow to the hydroelectric power plant. In 2018, a turbine in the Sukamulya area was damaged by a lightning strike. Similarly, in 2016, two hydroelectric power plants were damaged, ultimately burdening local residents with costs.

 

The community's ongoing efforts to address these challenges and maintain its reliance on renewable energy demonstrate their commitment to maintaining independence in electricity generation. The use of micro-hydro power plants also demonstrates respect for water as a source of life. Therefore, electricity production from micro-hydro power plants is linked to the preservation of surrounding forests and springs.

 

2. Solar-powered boat of the Achuar, Ecuador

 

In the Amazon region, indigenous communities have taken the initiative to develop solar-powered boats or canoes, one of which is the Achuar people in Ecuador.

 

Solar-powered boats have gained interest because they can reduce fuel costs, pollution, and noise. They can also offer a low-risk alternative to road construction, which has long been a driver of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Therefore, this technology is designed to empower indigenous communities to independently manage and operate solar energy systems.

 

Tapiatpia, the first solar-powered boat, was designed and built between 2014 and 2016. It arrived in the Achuar region in 2017 and was then tested on a journey of approximately 1,800 kilometers.

 

The need for solar-powered boats became even more pressing when gasoline supplies to Achuar settlements were cut off due to restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. This experience ultimately strengthened the design model for local capacity, enabling communities to control this solar power technology within their communities.

 

Since then, Kara Solar, a project of the Latin American Association for Alternative Development (ALDEA), has delivered 12 solar-powered boats to indigenous communities in five countries: six in Ecuador, two each in Peru and Brazil, and one each in Suriname and the Solomon Islands. Efforts are also underway to provide charging facilities. The development of this technology helps strengthen indigenous communities' energy independence while supporting Amazon rainforest conservation efforts.

 

3. Solar powered irrigation for Adivasi communities, India

 

In remote Maharashtra, India, the indigenous Adivasi communities of Mokhada and Jawhar in Palghar District face an annual water crisis. Occurring every January, this crisis forces women to walk up to 40 kilometers a day just to fetch water. Without access to the state electricity grid, the water shortage ties their time and energy to a cycle of poverty.

 

To address this issue, over the past few years, the Adivasi community has collaborated with the local NGO AROEHAN and the Prayas organization. This partnership has resulted in an innovative clean water supply and irrigation system powered by solar-powered pumps.

 

Through this initiative, solar panels are installed to pump water from wells to village storage tanks. Equipped with siphon-based filters, the system delivers clean water directly to residential areas. Free from dependence on fuel and corporate electricity, this environmentally friendly technology is low-maintenance and highly durable.

 

This community initiative has freed more than 11,000 residents in 38 villages from water crises and infectious diseases. For women, access to water near their homes has been a mini-revolution, allowing them more time to support their children's education and produce handicrafts to supplement their family income. Furthermore, solar-powered irrigation systems in 21 hamlets now enable 464 farmers to grow crops up to three times per year, significantly increasing their income.

 

Indigenous community energy independence

 

Energy policies, which are still dominated by large-scale projects, need to be balanced with community-based development. The stories of these indigenous peoples demonstrate that the energy transition can grow from the grassroots or through decentralization when communities are given the space to manage their territories, knowledge, and resources. Therefore, approaches to electricity system planning that focus on large-scale projects require careful consideration.

 

The government must also support communities seeking to meet their energy needs independently and sustainably, especially considering that the development of large-scale energy projects is vulnerable to various social risks, land issues, and disruption to biodiversity.

 

Renewable energy development cannot be understood solely as infrastructure development. Indigenous communities need to be meaningfully involved throughout the planning, implementation, and management. The challenge goes beyond providing energy sources; sustainable financing must be geared toward reducing inequalities. This will strengthen local capacity and expand access to energy resources for communities that have previously struggled to access them.