Yes to renewables done right

The document outlines a training curriculum focused on 'energy justice' and 'energy sufficiency' to ensure the transition to renewables does not replicate the injustices of fossil fuel systems. It explores the risks of 'energy extractivism'—where resources are exploited in the Global South for consumption elsewhere—and provides examples of community-owned energy models in The Gambia, Brazil, Denmark, and the UK. The module guides participants through a process of identifying barriers to just transitions and developing local projects based on circular design and 'people power'.

• The document argues that 'basic energy access'—defined by the IEA as a minimum bundle of services like lightbulbs and phone charging—is insufficient and potentially 'anti-women' because it limits opportunities for rural women to reduce drudgery or run home businesses.
• Energy extractivism is described as an economic model rooted in colonialism where natural resources are exploited to facilitate energy consumption in other regions, leading to 'sacrifice zones' such as neighborhoods near oil refineries in Durban, South Africa.
• The text identifies 'internal extractivism' and 'green extractivism', where renewable projects benefit urban centers while harming rural areas. Examples include the 750MW Rewa Mega Solar project in India, which supports Delhi's metro system while local people lose land and face energy scarcity, and floating solar projects in the Philippines that threaten artisanal fisherfolk's livelihoods.
• Lithium mining in Argentina is cited as an example of renewable energy extractivism that damages ecologically important wetlands and increases water scarcity in arid regions without improving local energy storage or access.
• Community energy is presented as a viable alternative to large-scale extractivism, with examples including the Batokunku wind turbine in The Gambia, the CRELUZ cooperative in Brazil which serves approximately 90,000 people, and the Middelgrunden offshore wind farm in Denmark.
• In the UK, Greater Manchester Community Renewables Limited (GMCR) uses 'community share offers'—non-tradable investments—to fund solar installations on schools and community centers, reinvesting surpluses into a Community Fund for environmental projects.
• Scotland has implemented a strategy to reach a 2GW target for community-owned renewable energy by 2030, combining political targets, the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) finance, and regional advisors.

APA

Schiffer, A. (2025). Yes to renewables done right. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/EN-RDR-Module.pdf

Chicago

Schiffer, Anne. Yes to renewables done right. Friends of the Earth International, 2025. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/EN-RDR-Module.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schiffer |first1=Anne |title=Yes to renewables done right |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=April 2025 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/EN-RDR-Module.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schiffer2025yes, author = {Schiffer, Anne}, title = {{Yes to renewables done right}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/EN-RDR-Module.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }