Co-producing just energy transition in everyday practices: sociotechnical innovation and sustainable development in the Thailand-Myanmar border

ABSTRACT

Coupling innovations in everyday social and technological practices to close energy poverty delivers local sustainable development. Although case studies on the linkages between energy access and sustainable development had been far-reaching, we know very little about their interactions in everyday practices, such as cooking. A focus on access to renewable energy for everyday activities as cooking has substantial implications for the energy justice principles of equity, accessibility, and affordability. Energy justice underlines the necessity for all people to have access to energy services fairly. At the same time, one should ensure that these energy systems do not inflict damage upon the present and future generations. This paper used a Grounded Theory approach to show how an energy transition in everyday practices such as cooking can deliver just, local, sustainable development while emerging as a sociotechnical innovation in rural Thailand.

KEYWORDS:

• Energy justice
• sustainable development goals
• energy access
• energy transition
• Thailand
• community energy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).