Energy justice and inclusive transitions: Lessons from community renewable energy in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Southeast Asia occupies a critical position in the global renewable energy transition, yet the region faces persistent contradictions. Despite vast solar, hydro, and biomass resources, energy systems remain dominated by coal and natural gas, with subsidies reinforcing fossil dependence. At the same time, more than 45 million people still lack reliable electricity access, highlighting the urgency of inclusive approaches. Community renewable energy (CRE) projects, such as micro-hydro, solar mini-grids, and biomass cooperatives, offer decentralised pathways that expand access, empower communities, and build resilience. However, outcomes across ASEAN have been uneven. This article applies the energy justice framework to explain these divergent outcomes, conceptualising CRE barriers as justice deficits: distributional (high costs, financing gaps, and subsidy bias toward fossil fuels), procedural (governance and participation limitations), and recognition (overlooked cultural values and community knowledge). These injustices are compounded by cross-cutting risks such as climate variability and fragile infrastructure. By synthesising comparative evidence, the study highlights that financial innovation alone cannot ensure sustainability, regulatory reforms fail without community trust, and technological solutions remain vulnerable without resilience planning. The findings underscore that CRE is not only a technical or economic issue but fundamentally a matter of fairness, legitimacy, and empowerment in Southeast Asia’s energy transitions.