We own this power! : How a rural community in Indonesia uphold energy justice to harness a hybrid solar-wind energy plant and unlock capabilities.

Sammanfattning: Indonesia, as per their stance on the Paris Agreement and social development goals (SDG), has been on a winding journey to meet their renewable energy targets. In providing the national electricity, the state electricity company (PLN) is still deriving more than 70% of its energy sources from coal and oil As per 2018, only up to 8% of on-grid power is generated from renewable energy sources, and this percentage has decreased by half between 2010 and 2018. Conversely, while the nation succeeded in achieving a 98.2% electrification rate in 2017, the rest 1,8% implies that there are still more than five million people without access to electricity (World Bank, 2020). This dismissed population mostly lives in remote areas unreachable by the national grid. Indonesia's geographical contour renders the task of providing on-grid electricity in rural and remote areas daunting; one of the guidelines for advancing the implementation of SDG 7 is particularly useful in its recommendation to optimise the possibility for decentralised renewable energy solutions. Using qualitative method, I conducted a field research to investigate the background of PLTH Pantai Baru’s establishment—a renewable energy facility (REF)—in the Ngentak hamlet, Central Java, Indonesia, along with the relevant social processes that have happened in the community for almost a decade as the project beneficiary. Having shared control over PLTH planning with the project initiators from the early period, the community gained the ability to collectively arrange the utilisation of the PLTH according to community needs. This period has led the community to demonstrate recognition and procedural justice and has brought a fair distribution of benefits and responsibilities. Underpinned by the PLTH, tourism has become an effective alternative means of livelihood for the community, which has contributed to the establishment of capabilities. On the other hand, the PLTH has shaped the community members who run the facility into technical experts on their field. In Ngentak’s case, these combined findings on energy justice and capabilities prove that the REF has successfully integrated into the Ngentak community. Furthermore, future research comparing multiple case studies on existing community renewable energy in Indonesia can give more insight into patterns and suitable guides to build a sustainable and integrated community-based REF. In broader view, such future research may establish guidance or sustainable pathways for the national transition to renewable energy.