Towards energy justice and energy sovereignty: Participatory co-design of off-grid systems in the Brazilian Amazon

Participatory processes that emphasize energy justice and energy sovereignty are essential to provide electricity for those in need in just and sustainable ways. For isolated, off-grid communities, access to electricity remains a significant challenge, especially in the Global South. Participation is critical to ensuring the viability and sustainability of off-grid energy systems in remote areas, as communities need to be self-reliant in managing and maintaining their own systems. However, experiences of participatory co-design of community-owned, off-grid energy systems – including participation in the steps of planning, dimensioning, installation, training, and management – are still underreported in the literature. In collaboration with three off-grid communities in the municipality of Santarém in the Brazilian Amazon, we conducted a participatory co-design process that delivered photovoltaic systems and a hydrokinetic turbine, using microgrids to improve energy access. We describe and discuss how participation was facilitated through transdisciplinary methods, including participatory workshops, surveys, observations, and direct engagement with community members. Our theoretically grounded approach to community engagement advances both the theory and practice of place-based, just energy transitions. Moreover, it also offers a practical example of how energy justice and energy sovereignty could be empirically practiced by academics and practitioners alike. • Nearly one million people in the Brazilian Amazon live with limited or no access to electricity • Photovoltaic systems can provide electricity for isolated, off-grid communities • Community engagement is crucial for justice and sustainability in off-grid systems • Our case study offers theory-based, practical advice for researchers and practitioners • Participatory co-design fosters energy justice and energy sovereignty