THE THE PROBLEMS OF JUST ENERGY TRANSITION IN WEST SUMATRA: ENERGY DEMOCRACY, ECOLOGICAL JUSTICE, COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
Keywords:
energy democracy; energy justice; ecological justice; community ownership; West Sumatra
Abstract
The transition toward renewable energy is increasingly promoted as a pathway to decarbonization, energy security, and sustainable development. Yet renewable-energy expansion does not automatically constitute a just energy transition. This article examines the challenges of just energy transition in West Sumatra, Indonesia, through the lenses of energy justice, energy democracy, ecological justice, and community ownership. It employs a qualitative comparative case-study approach based on documentary research and recent field research at three renewable-energy sites: the floating solar photovoltaic project at Danau Singkarak, the Gunung Talang geothermal project, and the Muara Laboh geothermal project. The findings reveal a persistent governance gap between centralized energy-transition policies and local territorial realities. Participation remains largely administrative rather than deliberative; customary land rights are insufficiently incorporated into project governance; community-level economic benefits remain weakly institutionalized; and local communities are positioned primarily as beneficiaries or affected populations rather than co-owners and decision-makers. These conditions generate distrust and resistance, even where communities do not reject renewable energy itself. The article argues that such resistance can represent claims for procedural, recognition, distributional, and ecological justice. It further contends that energy democracy provides a crucial political dimension of just transition by addressing ownership and control. The article proposes a nagari-based energy-democracy framework combining deliberative participation, recognition of customary rights, ecological safeguards, binding benefit-sharing, and community or cooperative ownership. A genuinely just energy transition therefore requires redistributing not only energy benefits, but also political authority, economic value, ecological responsibility, and ownership
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References
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Walker, C., & Baxter, J. (2017). “It’s easy to throw rocks at a corporation”: Wind energy development and distributive justice in Canada. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 19(6), 754–768. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2016.1267614
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Wolsink, M. (2007). Wind power implementation: The nature of public attitudes: Equity and fairness instead of “backyard motives.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 11(6), 1188–1207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2005.10.005
Wüstenhagen, R., Wolsink, M., & Bürer, M. J. (2007). Social acceptance of renewable energy innovation: An introduction to the concept. Energy Policy, 35(5), 2683–2691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2006.12.001
Andreucci, D., García-López, G., Radhuber, I. M., Conde, M., Voskoboynik, D. M., Farrugia, J. D., & Zografos, C. (2023). The coloniality of green extractivism: Unearthing decarbonisation by dispossession through the case of nickel. Political Geography, 107, 102997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2023.102997
Anggreta, D. K., Somantri, G. R., & Purwanto, S. A. (2022). Social acceptance: Mapping the perspectives of stakeholders in the development of geothermal power plants in West Sumatra, Indonesia. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 17(4), 1053–1065. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.170402
Araujo, K. (2014). The emerging field of energy transitions: Progress, challenges, and opportunities. Energy Research & Social Science, 1, 112–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2014.03.002
Asian Development Bank. (2024). Project performance evaluation report for PT Supreme Energy Muara Laboh—Muara Laboh Geothermal Power Project (Indonesia) Loan 3487. Asian Development Bank. ADB project evaluation report
Asian Development Bank. (2025). ADB supports Indonesia’s green energy transition with geothermal expansion project. Asian Development Bank. ADB project page and documents
Astuti, R., Raman, S., & Yeremia, A. E. (2025). Putting community-centric justice into just transitions from the Global South: The case of Indonesia’s nickel sector. Environmental Research Letters, 20(5), 054020. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/adc8b9
Aung, M. T., Koski, J., Yonariza, Resurrección, B. P., Kartha, S., Mahdi, & Yuerlita. (2020). Low-carbon transitions in West Sumatra, Indonesia: Gender and equity dimensions. Stockholm Environment Institute. SEI full-text PDF
Batel, S., & Devine-Wright, P. (2017). Energy colonialism and the role of the global in local responses to new energy infrastructures in the UK: A critical and exploratory empirical analysis. Antipode, 49(1), 3–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/anti.12261
Becker, S., & Naumann, M. (2017). Energy democracy: Mapping the debate on energy alternatives. Geography Compass, 11(8), e12321. https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12321
Bouzarovski, S., & Simcock, N. (2017). Spatializing energy justice. Energy Policy, 107, 640–648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2017.03.064
Brummer, V. (2018). Community energy—Benefits and barriers: A comparative literature review of community energy in the UK, Germany and the USA. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 94, 187–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.06.013
Burke, M. J., & Stephens, J. C. (2017). Energy democracy: Goals and policy instruments for sociotechnical transitions. Energy Research & Social Science, 33, 35–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.09.024
Cass, N., Walker, G., & Devine-Wright, P. (2010). Good neighbours, public relations and bribes: The politics and perceptions of community benefit provision in renewable energy development in the UK. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 12(3), 255–275. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2010.509558
Center for Agrarian and Environmental Justice. (2026, April 15). Transisi energi berkeadilan di Sumatera Barat: Dari proyek teknokratis menuju tata kelola berbasis nagari. Universitas Andalas.
Creamer, E., Aiken, G. T., van Veelen, B., Walker, G., & Devine-Wright, P. (2019). Community renewable energy: What does it do? Walker and Devine-Wright (2008) ten years on. Energy Research & Social Science, 57, 101223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101223
Devine-Wright, P. (2005). Beyond NIMBYism: Towards an integrated framework for understanding public perceptions of wind energy. Wind Energy, 8(2), 125–139. https://doi.org/10.1002/we.124
Fajri, H., Yuliarti, Hanoselina, Y., & Wahyuni, N. (2023). Policy capacity challenges for renewable energy development in West Sumatra, Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1268(1), 012054. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1268/1/012054
Gather, J., Prowse, M., & Seussler, D. (2025). Pathways towards just transitions in the Global South. Energy Research & Social Science, 127, 104293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104293
Geels, F. W. (2002). Technological transitions as evolutionary reconfiguration processes: A multi-level perspective and a case-study. Research Policy, 31(8–9), 1257–1274. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(02)00062-8
Geels, F. W. (2011). The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 1(1), 24–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2011.02.002
Government of West Sumatra. (2019). Peraturan Daerah Provinsi Sumatera Barat Nomor 11 Tahun 2019 tentang Rencana Umum Energi Daerah Tahun 2019–2050. Pemerintah Provinsi Sumatera Barat.
Gross, C. (2007). Community perspectives of wind energy in Australia: The application of a justice and community fairness framework to increase social acceptance. Energy Policy, 35(5), 2727–2736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2006.12.013
Heffron, R. J., & McCauley, D. (2018). What is the “just transition”? Geoforum, 88, 74–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2017.11.016
International Energy Agency. (2024). World energy outlook 2024. OECD Publishing. IEA World Energy Outlook 2024
International Labour Organization. (2015). Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all. International Labour Organization. ILO Guidelines
International Renewable Energy Agency. (2024). Renewable capacity statistics 2024. IRENA. IRENA Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024
Jenkins, K., McCauley, D., Heffron, R., Stephan, H., & Rehner, R. (2016). Energy justice: A conceptual review. Energy Research & Social Science, 11, 174–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2015.10.004
Markard, J., Raven, R., & Truffer, B. (2012). Sustainability transitions: An emerging field of research and its prospects. Research Policy, 41(6), 955–967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.02.013
McCauley, D., & Heffron, R. (2018). Just transition: Integrating climate, energy and environmental justice. Energy Policy, 119, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.04.014
Newell, P., & Mulvaney, D. (2013). The political economy of the “just transition.” The Geographical Journal, 179(2), 132–140. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12008
Rogers, J. C., Simmons, E. A., Convery, I., & Weatherall, A. (2012). Social impacts of community renewable energy projects: Findings from a woodfuel case study. Energy Policy, 42, 239–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.11.081
Secretariat of Just Energy Transition Partnership. (2023). Comprehensive investment and policy plan for Indonesia’s just energy transition partnership. Government of Indonesia. JETP CIPP 2023
Secretariat of Just Energy Transition Partnership. (2025). JETP progress report 2025. Government of Indonesia. JETP Progress Report 2025
Sovacool, B. K., & Dworkin, M. H. (2015). Energy justice: Conceptual insights and practical applications. Applied Energy, 142, 435–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.01.002
Sovacool, B. K., Martiskainen, M., Hook, A., & Baker, L. (2019). Decarbonization and its discontents: A critical energy justice perspective on four low-carbon transitions. Climatic Change, 155(4), 581–619. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02521-7
Stevis, D., & Felli, R. (2020). Planetary just transition? How inclusive and how just? Earth System Governance, 6, 100065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esg.2020.100065
Szulecki, K. (2018). Conceptualizing energy democracy. Environmental Politics, 27(1), 21–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2017.1387294
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (2015). Paris Agreement. United Nations. Paris Agreement — UNFCCC
Walker, C., Baxter, J., & Ouellette, D. (2014). Beyond rhetoric to understanding determinants of wind turbine support and conflict in two Ontario, Canada communities. Environment and Planning A, 46(3), 730–745. https://doi.org/10.1068/a130004p
Walker, C., & Baxter, J. (2017). “It’s easy to throw rocks at a corporation”: Wind energy development and distributive justice in Canada. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 19(6), 754–768. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2016.1267614
Walker, G., & Devine-Wright, P. (2008). Community renewable energy: What should it mean? Energy Policy, 36(2), 497–500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2007.10.019
Walker, G., Devine-Wright, P., Hunter, S., High, H., & Evans, B. (2010). Trust and community: Exploring the meanings, contexts and dynamics of community renewable energy. Energy Policy, 38(6), 2655–2663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2009.05.055
Wang, X., & Lo, K. (2021). Just transition: A conceptual review. Energy Research & Social Science, 82, 102291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102291
Wolsink, M. (2007). Wind power implementation: The nature of public attitudes: Equity and fairness instead of “backyard motives.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 11(6), 1188–1207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2005.10.005
Wüstenhagen, R., Wolsink, M., & Bürer, M. J. (2007). Social acceptance of renewable energy innovation: An introduction to the concept. Energy Policy, 35(5), 2683–2691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2006.12.001
Published
2026-08-20
How to Cite
Setyaka, V., Sucy Delyarahmi, & Apriwan. (2026). THE THE PROBLEMS OF JUST ENERGY TRANSITION IN WEST SUMATRA: ENERGY DEMOCRACY, ECOLOGICAL JUSTICE, COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP. Journal of Social Political Sciences, 7(3), 269-299. https://doi.org/10.59689/jsps.v7i3.386
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Copyright (c) 2026 Virtuous Setyaka, Sucy Delyarahmi, Apriwan
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