Indonesia’s transition towards renewable energy is closely connected to the challenge of ensuring equitable access to electricity across its vast archipelagic territory. For remote islands and rural communities, extending the national electricity grid can be technically challenging and costly. In this context, off-grid solar energy has emerged as a promising approach to expanding electricity access while supporting Indonesia’s transition towards renewable energy.
the SUSTAIN (Citizens Participation in Resource Governance and Sustainable Transition) project, research explores how village-scale off-grid solar energy projects on Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara, contribute not only to improving energy access but also to shaping relationships between the state and remote communities.
The research focuses on the Sumba Iconic Island initiative, launched in 2010 to promote renewable energy development, reduce energy poverty, and support local economic development. The initiative brings together a range of actors, including government institutions, local governments, private companies, international organisations, and civil society organisations. The research examines how renewable energy projects create connections between communities and institutions across geographically dispersed territories.
This perspective also highlights the importance of engagement and participation in energy transitions. The development of off-grid solar projects involves coordination among multiple actors and creates spaces through which communities interact with government institutions and other organisations. Understanding these relationships provides insight into how sustainable energy transitions are experienced and negotiated at the local level. Through this research, SUSTAIN contributes to broader discussions on citizen participation, collaborative governance, and inclusive energy transitions. The case of Sumba demonstrates that expanding energy access is not only about bringing electricity to remote communities, but also about understanding the relationships, institutions, and forms of participation that shape how energy transitions unfold.
