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Experiences
2020

The first Virtual Exhibition of TEJ’s community experiences was the result of an interesting combination of analysis and struggles. On the one hand, in the last 15 years the notion of energy transition began to gain strength, but much, much earlier, communities and organizations that question the development model and the implications of extractive energy projects. in the territories, had been raising and defending the idea of energy sovereignty of the peoples and for the peoples. energy sovereignty of the peoples and for the peoples. . That is why, at an international meeting held in Bogota at the end of 2019, we analyzed with other organizations that the energy transition is just one part of the energy sovereignty The latter proposes a fundamental transformation of the model as a whole, taking into account all its consequences, but also present and historical responsibilities, while the former tends to remain in the search for the transformation of the sources of electricity generation, without questioning, more often than not, the why and wherefore it is required.

That is why, when the pandemic began in 2020, community alternatives and practices did not stop their bid to transform the energy model, but they were forced to change their ways of working. That is why it was found that a good way to continue the reflection and action was to create this virtual public display of the grassroots efforts that have been building to give this energy transition the missing ingredient: justice.

With this great objective and with the conviction that this is not an issue exclusive to Colombia, we proposed to other organizational processes that they also be conveners of this virtual Exhibition, so in this effort converge, in addition to Censat Viva, the Collective of Peasant and Community Reserves of Santander, Crccs, of which Fundaexpresión is part, the Sowing Communities of Territories, Waters and Autonomies, Setaa, affected by the Hidroituango project in Antioquia and are part of the Ríos Vivos Movement, the Energy and Equity Working Group, where actors from Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador converge, seeking to connect the debate on energy transition between the academic world and social organizations, as well as the Movement of People Affected by Dams in Latin America, MAR, which has been raising the need to build an alternative society and a popular energy model.

In this first sample in 2020, the work of women, who in the majority of cases are the leaders of the experiences, that is to say, they are the protagonists of the community energy models, was very noteworthy.

In this first version of the Exhibition, a total of 27 initiatives from four Latin American countries participated, showing various ways in which popular ingenuity is put into practice in the TEJ, to break relationships of dependence and achieve autonomy. The first exhibition was dominated by experiences with biodigesters, dehydrators, photovoltaic systems and micro-hydroelectric power plants.


The contents presented below were taken from the responses of the experiences registered; in some cases we edited the wording, but their main ideas are preserved, so that the contexts in which the experiences emerge and the challenges behind these implementations can be known. In addition, you can consult the materials and technical stakes that made its construction possible, as well as the description of some complications that occurred in its execution, together with the way its promoters found to overcome those obstacles.

You can then filter the experiences by selecting the type of technology you are interested in or search by keyword:

Agroecological production and rescue of native and creole seeds

Agroecological production and rescue of native and creole seeds

Implementation of highly efficient production systems for energy recycling, using polycultures, asso…

Asoperna’s photovoltaic systems in La Guajira

Asoperna’s photovoltaic systems in La Guajira

The project began with the trip of the leader Magalys Polanco to India, where she was trained for 6 …

Astuhermosas community solar energy

Astuhermosas community solar energy

The farm is sustainable and contributes to the reduction of contamination of water sources, for the …

Asvam Peque Biodigester

Asvam Peque Biodigester

When the woman of the household was introduced to the world of alternative energies, she never imagi…

Automatic community street lighting system with photovoltaic solar energy for indigenous communities of Puerto Mosquito.

Automatic community street lighting system with photovoltaic solar energy for indigenous communities of Puerto Mosquito.

By 2020, the project had been tested for two years in the Puerto Mosquito area of Santa Marta, where…

Change of use and consumption patterns through the production of handicrafts.

Change of use and consumption patterns through the production of handicrafts.

Through the production of reused cloth bags, we were able to reach people who want to make a change …

Development of a biodigester to produce biogas from organic waste stored in the septic tanks at the high school of the Institución Educativa Agropecuaria Las Aves.

Development of a biodigester to produce biogas from organic waste stored in the septic tanks at the high school of the Institución Educativa Agropecuaria Las Aves.

The Institución Educativa Agropecuaria las Aves decided to replicate a biodigester following the com…

Dignified and communitarian life of women in semi-desert landscapes of southern Tolima through family productive patios.

Dignified and communitarian life of women in semi-desert landscapes of southern Tolima through family productive patios.

The community is located in Pueblo Nuevo, a territory separated from the Tatacoa Desert by the Magda…

Efficient wood-burning stoves and wood gardens for community-based forest conservation and good living

Efficient wood-burning stoves and wood gardens for community-based forest conservation and good living

Association of agricultural producers. Asovivir – Member of the Collective of Community Farmer…

Empaga’s chili bicimolino

Empaga’s chili bicimolino

The Association has 25 families that plant, cultivate and harvest chili peppers organically, made up…

Family biodigester in Caldas

Family biodigester in Caldas

The husband heard that it was possible to produce gas with the manure from the pigs and chickens, so…

Harvesting the Sun: Forage silage and feedlots for animal feed

Harvesting the Sun: Forage silage and feedlots for animal feed

The alternative energy experience (harvesting the sun), began in 2015 with the participation in the …

Hydropower and circular economy solutions in Intag, Ecuador

Hydropower and circular economy solutions in Intag, Ecuador

The experience was born from the recognition of the human talent that exists in the community and th…

Let’s illuminate the slopes

Let’s illuminate the slopes

The hillside movement is an articulation of community and neighborhood organizations in the city of …

Pelton power generation system

Pelton power generation system

Astuhermosas Technology: Transition Area Fair Energetics Energy access for local communities Convent…

Photovoltaic systems for the El Edén Senior Citizens’ Home Foundation

Photovoltaic systems for the El Edén Senior Citizens’ Home Foundation

The El Edén Home for the Elderly Foundation launched the solar energy project in 2018, which aimed t…

Photovoltaic systems to improve the quality of life in isolated areas of Pueblo Viejo, in Socotá, Boyacá.

Photovoltaic systems to improve the quality of life in isolated areas of Pueblo Viejo, in Socotá, Boyacá.

In the village of Pueblo Viejo in the municipality of Socotá, there is no access to electricity, whi…

Pumping drinking water with solar energy for an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable village.

Pumping drinking water with solar energy for an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable village.

The majority of the inhabitants of Ovejeras are farmers, and the drinking water service in the villa…

Solar dehydrator for aromatic herbs – Parabolic stoves –

Solar dehydrator for aromatic herbs – Parabolic stoves –

New Horizons women’s community group SETAA Communities Technology/s: Transition Areas Fair Ene…

Solar dehydrator for processing aromatic and medicinal plants

Solar dehydrator for processing aromatic and medicinal plants

The dehydrator consists of greenhouse type plastics, nets to place the plants and wood for the struc…

Solar energy for island life

Solar energy for island life

There was no energy in the area apart from the biomass of the wetland they inhabited. When thinking …

Solar ice for artisanal fishing in the municipality of Puerto Carreño, Vichada

Solar ice for artisanal fishing in the municipality of Puerto Carreño, Vichada

The pilot was under construction at the time of its participation in 2020, the delivery was planned …

Women’s initiatives with solar dehydration and solar collection for food processing in the Santurbán páramo

Women’s initiatives with solar dehydration and solar collection for food processing in the Santurbán páramo

Community work began approximately 15 years ago with the mobilizations and processes of territorial …