Rehabilitation of a Solar Energy System in Indigenous Territory Through Community Power

Abstract

This article presents the rehabilitation of an off-grid photovoltaic solar energy system that had been out of operation, installed in an educational center located in one of Costa Rica’s Indigenous territories. The experience is analyzed from a socio-technical perspective that integrates the technical recovery of the system with a process that contributes to community empowerment based on Community Power principles. The methodology included a comprehensive system diagnosis, selective replacement of critical components, partial reconstruction of the internal electrical network, the articulation of inter-institutional support networks, and a structured training process for system users. The results show that the rehabilitation restored a stable electricity supply under real operating conditions, optimizing system use in a resource-constrained context through strategies such as non-simultaneous load operation. Furthermore, the active participation of members of the educational community in the management, monitoring, and operation of the system strengthened local ownership and reduced dependence on external technical support. This study provides empirical evidence of the technical, economic, and social feasibility of rehabilitating off-grid solar systems in Indigenous and rural educational contexts, highlighting community empowerment as a key factor for long-term sustainability