Analysis of Decentralized Energy Systems in Rural Communities: A Focus on Accessibility and Sustainability

[EN] Limited access to energy in rural areas undermines the quality of life and hinders the short-term economic growth in a community. It is therefore essential to identify the evolution of technological tools, the social factors, and the current development in the forms of energy commercialization. Using a bibliometric approach and systematic review, this study aimed to conduct case studies in rural communities that implemented decentralized and sustainable energy systems. The methodology involved: i) A bibliometric analysis under the mapping of co-occurrence by keywords and trend topics using scientific databases like Scopus and Web of Science (WoS); ii) The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method; and iii) A systematic review using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). A total of 259 articles from rural communities were analyzed from year 1979 to 2024 to prove that biomass, prevailing throughout history, is the most feasible source of energy generated during implementation; the analysis also provided a better understanding of its utilization mechanisms. Bioenergy accounted for 36% of the scientific contribution, primarily out of its widespread availability and the diversity of methods for harnessing energy from this resource. The energy transition of the last two decades was reflected in renewable energy sources (29%), energy mix (18%), and solar energy (9%), relegating conventional energy to only 2%. This study discovered that the research areas of hydropower and wind energy were influenced by the feasibility and social acceptability of their respective projects. Meanwhile, the use of blockchain, exerting an impact on the traceability of decentralized energy trading, advocated a proposal for change in current markets to strengthen the sustainability of projects, streamline processes, and back up information. To sum up, this study examined the utilization and implementation of renewable energy in decentralized energy projects, thereby contributing to energy autonomy and optimized resource utilization.