Editor’s choice
La Guajira, a region with great natural and cultural wealth, has witnessed a growing interest in the implementation of wind projects as an alternative to meet Colombia’s energy demand. However, progress on wind energy in La Guajira is not only a matter of technical or economic feasibility but also a matter of social acceptance. This programme aims to build a collaborative platform to accelerate renewable energy deployment in La Guajira.
2024
Colombia is at a critical moment for renewable energy expansion, particularly in La Guajira region. La Guajira has an untapped world-class wind resource. There, about 30 wind farms are projected to be built in the next years (over 40 wind farms by 2034), along with new overhead high-voltage power lines and other necessary infrastructure. La Guajira is also home to the Wayuu Indigenous Peoples, representing over half of the region’s population, and many wind projects and related infrastructure overlap their territory.
As in many parts of the world, the implementation of wind projects in La Guajira presents high potential for social conflict, given justice and equity concerns over aspects including social and cultural impact management, benefit-sharing, conflicts over land use and the legitimacy of consultation processes. These issues have led to project delays and cancelations caused by various blockades and protests. The Colombian national government is committed to the continued development of wind energy in La Guajira and reach agreements that allow projects to move forward, in alignment with the Just Energy Transition Roadmap.
SEI has carried out extensive research and fieldwork on this topic in La Guajira, including visits to communities surrounding wind park locations, workshops with members of indigenous communities, interviews with industry associations and key developers, meetings with local, regional, and national government representatives, and a literature review of each of the projects in their different phases. Our findings point to a series of enabling factors for social acceptance of wind energy projects in La Guajira, including facilitating information access and identifying and strengthening regional institutional capacities and participants in consultation processes.
The core objective is to build and develop the Initiative for the Inclusive Development of Renewable Energy in La Guajira – IDEAR Guajira – as a collaborative platform to accelerate renewable energy deployment while guiding the process towards more equitable and socially beneficial outcomes. IDEAR consists of 4 components:
Feature / Learn more about SEI's efforts and research regarding the social acceptance of wind energy projects in La Guajira, Colombia.
2 October 2023 / About Fossil fuels, Public policy and Renewables
Feature / This story conveys SEI's fieldwork in La Guajira exploring the social acceptance of wind energy among Indigenous Wayuu communities and key challenges.
13 July 2023 / About Energy access, Public policy and Renewables
Project / A new alliance championing socially responsible renewable energy implementation with meaningful participation and benefits for communities across the globe.
2024 / About Climate policy, Land use, Mitigation, Renewables, Supply Chains and Water-Energy-Food Nexus
Media coverage / SEI Research Associate José Vega talks to Bloomberg on challenges in wind energy development in La Guajira, Colombia.
9 November 2023 / About Energy access, Public policy and Renewables
Project / This project aims to steer renewable energy development in La Guajira towards more equitable and socially beneficial paths.
2023 / About Renewables
Other publication / This book explores the complexities of making renewable energy transitions just and draws on real-world experiences from regions engaged in these efforts.
2 September 2024 / About Energy access and Renewables
SEI report / The authors identify enabling factors of social acceptance for wind energy projects and, more broadly, of a just energy transition in La Guajira.
4 January 2024 / About Energy access and Renewables
SEI brief / This brief provides a snapshot of the renewables landscape for wind and solar in Colombia as of 2022.
9 March 2023 / About Renewables
Journal article / This study focuses on the current renewable energy developments in La Guajira, Colombia, where extractive industries have dominated the economy.
10 June 2022 / About Climate policy, Energy access, Fossil fuels, Mitigation, Public policy and Renewables
Other publication / As the energy transition goes forward, it is our responsibility to make sure it is done in a just and equitable way.
18 May 2022 / About Adaptation, Energy access and Renewables
Project / This project aims to steer renewable energy development in La Guajira towards more equitable and socially beneficial paths.
2023 / About Renewables
SEI brief / Challenges highlighted here inform policy, development cooperation and private finance, research and on-the-ground projects, for researchers and practitioners.
11 October 2024 / About Fossil fuels, Public policy and Renewables
Past event / At CBD COP16, the Latin American Bioeconomy Network will launch the guiding principles for implementing bioeconomy strategies.
31 October 2024 / About Bioeconomy, Food and agriculture, Forests and Public policy
Past event / At CBD COP16, experts will analyze the challenges of value chains in the tropics and their potential for the bioeconomy.
29 October 2024 / About Bioeconomy, Food and agriculture, Forests and Public policy
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