Driving the development of energy communities in Colombia: challenges and opportunities for a decentralized energy transition

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22320/07190700.2025.15.01.01

Keywords:

electricity, energy policy, energy resources

Abstract

Energy communities represent a transformative paradigm for democratizing access to renewable energy, decentralizing power systems, and fostering economic sustainability. This study analyzes their global development, with an emphasis on developing countries such as Colombia. The research employs a systematic literature review in Scopus and a keyword co‑occurrence analysis to identify trends; in addition, Colombian regulatory documents were examined to contextualize the findings. The discussion addresses distributed generation, peer‑to‑peer (P2P) energy trading, and regulatory frameworks that drive local energy transitions. Although the opportunities are significant in Colombia, challenges persist in infrastructure, regulation, and social acceptance, particularly in the Caribbean region. The article proposes context‑specific strategies from international experiences to overcome these barriers and consolidate decentralized energy systems that accelerate the country’s energy transition and sustainable development.

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Author Biographies

María Fernanda Medina-Reyes, University of Technology of Bolivar, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Master's Degree in ICT Security
Staff teacher at the School of Digital Transformation

Juan Gabriel Fajardo-Cuadro, University of Technology of Bolivar, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Ph.D. in Technical Sciences
Staff Professor of the School of Engineering and Architecture

Juan Carlos Martinez-Santos, University of Technology of Bolivar, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Ph.D. in Computer Engineering
Staff Professor of the School of Digital Transformation

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

Medina-Reyes, M. F., Fajardo-Cuadro, J. G., & Martinez-Santos, J. C. (2025). Driving the development of energy communities in Colombia: challenges and opportunities for a decentralized energy transition. Sustainable Habitat, 15(1), 10–19. https://doi.org/10.22320/07190700.2025.15.01.01

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