'Energy Communities' Bring Electricity, Livelihoods to Colombia's Remotest Regions

Colombia's La Plata Archipelago is rich in natural beauty. Situated in Uramba Bahía Málaga National Park, it is surrounded by dense rainforest and a dazzling array of wildlife. Humpback whales come from Antarctica each year to reproduce in its warm, sheltered waters, where they can often be seen cresting the waves.

Yet the remote location also comes with drawbacks. Lacking connections to Colombia's national energy grid, communities on the islands have traditionally relied on diesel generators for their power. High fuels costs mean the generators run for just four hours each evening — a narrow window during which residents can charge phones, use lights, and power basic equipment to support fishing and tourism, their main sources of income.

But that's beginning to change thanks to a hybrid "mini grid" installed in 2025. The system pairs solar power with backup diesel generators, supplying 24-hour electricity to four of the islands' communities. Additional stand-alone solar systems were installed in 40 individual households. In total, the project has brought reliable, affordable power to nearly 300 families for the first time.

This transformation is part of Colombia's Energy Communities program, an effort launched in 2023 to bring electricity to off-grid areas across the country. The unique approach puts communities in charge of their own power systems — not only expanding energy access, but also generating income, improving lives and fortifying local economies. It's a model that other countries can learn from as they work to close stubborn energy access gaps, especially in hard-to-reach places.

What Are 'Energy Communities'?

Colombia has made great strides in expanding energy access: 95% of its population was connected to the grid more than a decade ago. But closing the remaining gap has been a challenge. Some 1.9 million Colombians living in rural areas still lacked reliable electricity as of 2020 due to the high costs and logistical difficulties of extending centralized grid infrastructure to these places. Many of those without power are Indigenous, Afro-Colombian and agricultural communities.

Like in La Plata Archipelago, most people in these areas rely on diesel generators for power. High fuel costs limit their electricity use to a few hours per day, while the generators emit toxic pollution.

The Energy Communities program, under Colombia's National Development Plan 2022-2026, aims to change that. It is empowering communities to take charge of their own electricity production and distribution, while at the same time supporting a shift from fossil fuels to renewables.

Through the program, off-grid communities receive support from the government and partner organizations to install local electricity infrastructure, with a focus on renewables. Public funds help cover costs related to installation, operation and maintenance. Tax incentives, such as income tax deductions and exemptions from VAT and import duties, further reduce the cost of clean power. The government and partners provide training and technical support so communities can build the skills to manage their energy systems long-term.

This model offers communities more reliable energy access, while also supporting Colombia's commitments to cut emissions 51% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. But beyond that, it's proven to be a boon for local economies.

Inside Colombia's Energy Communities

There were around 100 energy communities active across Colombia as of October 2024. We visited four of them, including La Plata Archipelago, to understand how the program is unfolding on the ground — and what it will take to scale up its successes.

Mingueo is powering clean transport, sustainable incomes.

The Caribbean township of Mingueo, on Colombia's north coast, is home to a mix of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. Residents have long relied on diesel-powered plants for a few hours of electricity each day, depending on whether funds were available to purchase fuel. But a pilot project launched in November 2023 has begun to expand energy access.

Residents allocated space in the headquarters of the local community action board for a 12-panel solar photovoltaic system. This community charging station meets basic needs, like powering cell phones and other electronic devices. But it primarily serves as a charging station for electric motorcycles. Many in the community rely on motorcycles to earn a living transporting people, goods and food around town.

A workshop nearby converts gasoline-powered motorcycle engines to electric ones. In addition to offering cleaner rides, solar-powered charging has opened the door to new job opportunities, with some community members now trained in the retrofitting process.

Collaboration was key to this effort, which was led by the think tank POLEN Transiciones Justas and electric generation company EOLOS, together with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the University of La Guajira and the community itself.

Natagaima uses solar to bolster fisheries, food security.

Natagaima is in the Colombian Andes along the banks of the Magdalena River, Colombia's main waterway. It is home to the Indigenous reserve of Tamirco, which has seen great success with energy self-management under the Energy Communities model.

Supported by the NGO Group Semillas, the Tamirco community integrated solar energy into their local fish farm. A solar-powered pump draws water for cleaning fish from a 15-meter-deep cistern — a task that was impossible with existing power sources. Solar energy also provides lighting over the fishponds to ward off natural predators, as well as in the common area used for cleaning and preparation.

A 20-panel solar array, coupled with lead-acid batteries, an inverter and a charge controller, powers four refrigerators that are used to store fish before they're sold or eaten. In addition to supporting food security and incomes, the lighted common area serves as a gathering place for community decision-making on territorial management.

This locally managed model has opened up new ways to use electricity — such as water pumping — while also building the community's resilience and self-sufficiency.

In the San Bernardo Archipelago, energy access supports tourism — but challenges remain.

The San Bernardo Archipelago is part of the Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park, a protected area since 1977 and home to the largest coral platform in the Colombian Caribbean. While this protected status preserves biodiversity, it can also make it difficult to build new energy infrastructure in the archipelago.

The islands of Múcura and Santa Cruz del Islote remain disconnected from the national grid, despite the latter being known as the "most densely populated island in the world." Save for sporadic diesel power, energy access has historically been scarce. This is a challenge for the tourism industry — the main source of income on both islands. Electricity is needed to refrigerate drinks, preserve fish for sale to local restaurants, and offer basic comforts like lighting and fans in guest accommodations.

In 2015, Colombia's government launched a pilot project to install a rural electrification system on the archipelago. The hybrid solar-diesel system was built to ensure energy access as a basic service for the islands' Afro-Colombian communities. After years of wear and tear, it was refurbished in 2021 with updated components.

However, the system currently faces operational problems due to insufficient maintenance by the private operator. Locals have reported failures in the solar system's batteries and inverters and a lack of upkeep for the diesel plants. These problems, often worsened by irregular diesel supply, have compromised the stability of the energy supply and led to frequent outages.

While this initiative predates the Energy Communities program, it laid the groundwork for greater local involvement. Now organized under the Consejo Comunitario de Comunidades Negras (Community Council of Black Communities), which was legally consolidated in 2024, residents are more actively participating in solar projects in Múcura and Santa Cruz del Islote, where female leadership has been essential for managing energy solutions.

Yet it remains unclear how the situation will evolve. Sustained progress will largely depend on political will from the national government. Potential paths forward could include formally establishing the area as an Energy Community, allocating continued financing and technical support, and strengthening local ownership and community leadership, especially that of women.

Lessons for Scale-Up

Energy communities can be a powerful tool for reducing energy poverty, improving livelihoods and boosting economies. They can also play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change and building long-term resilience. Generating energy from decentralized renewable sources helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring reliable, affordable energy access for all.

At the heart of this approach is robust community involvement, from project design to implementation and upkeep. Communities bring deep knowledge of local challenges and energy needs, helping build more effective and sustainable solutions.

But while the benefits are clear, challenges remain — as seen on the islands of Múcura and Santa Cruz del Islote. The communities we visited identified a set of common challenges that must be addressed for the model to scale equitably and sustainably. Similar challenges have been documented elsewhere, underscoring their broader relevance.

• Training and knowledge: Although the national government has prepared communities to independently manage their new energy infrastructure, some shared that the three-month training period was too short to fully grasp the complexity of these systems and how to operate them. Sustaining these initiatives requires comprehensive education — not only on technical and administrative needs, but also on cross-cutting topics, such as governance, rural women's empowerment, climate change adaptation and biodiversity management.

   

• Access to financing: Communities identified funding as a persistent challenge. While initial financing was facilitated through partnerships with government and non-governmental entities, sustained financial support is essential for long-term operation and maintenance. 

   

  Natagaima offers one example of a long-term financing pathway. The Tamirco Indigenous Reserve, among others, created two new funds: a Revolving Fund, which pays to maintain the solar system, and a Private Savings Fund, which provides direct credit lines to cooperative members to support their productive and social activities. Five percent of fishing revenue is allocated to these funds, which are managed by a cooperative founded by the community. But while this model reinforces the local solidarity economy, its reach is still limited.

   

• Institutional barriers: Energy communities require coordination across local, regional and national governments, as well as a clear regulatory and policy framework to support implementation. Communities cited a lack of effective communication between local governments and with communities, complicating alignment with ongoing municipal and development plans. There is also ambiguity around the responsibilities of different public entities — particularly in sectors that may appear to conflict, like energy and the environment. 

   

  In Colombia's protected marine areas, for example, there is a lack of consensus among environmental authorities, national parks, regional environmental agencies, the maritime authority and local communities. This disconnect can delay project implementation and discourage investment.

Community-led energy projects like these are gaining traction in regions like east Africa and southeast Asia. As countries work to close their energy access gaps and meet climate goals, Colombia's energy communities can offer valuable lessons — showing how to put power in the hands of the people.

The authors would like to thank the members, leaders and community boards of the communities we visited for sharing their experiences. We also acknowledge the support of organizations like POLEN Transiciones Justas, GGGI, Corpoema and the Semillas Group, who facilitated dialogues and/or supported field visits.