Community Empowerment in Peri-Urban Areas through Solar Technologies: A Case Study in Central Mexico

This article explores a strategy to empower vulnerable communities by transferring solar technology as a path to energy justice development. The proposed methodology is based on preliminary research on energy uses according to the needs, practices, and customs of the communities. The study focuses on the cases of three women with productive vocations based on entrepreneurship in different phases of incubation found in a peri-urban community in central Mexico. In this community, productive energy uses include a) the development of value-added products for retail and b) electrical implementation for machinery, lighting, and security. Therefore, a methodology was designed and implemented that combined social and technical interventions for empowerment. The social intervention included focus groups and semi-structured interviews. In contrast, the technical intervention evaluated the viability of solar technologies considering the available irradiation, energy consumption, and the cost of the monthly electricity rate. The results revealed each woman's prior knowledge about renewable energy, their concerns, and the importance of productive uses of energy. The methodology allowed women to develop a strategic business plan for their ventures, highlighting the benefits of solar energy. The document emphasizes the importance of adapting renewable technologies to the specific activities and needs of communities, as well as the analysis of productive uses of energy by region, including economic activities, home occupations, transportation, and rest time.