Dr. Juana Felipe joins the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) to contribute to various research processes regarding the role of communities in decision-making and the design of fairer compensatory measures in energy generation projects.

The transition toward renewable energy is key to sustainable development, but its implementation faces critical challenges in terms of equity and social participation. In this context, Environmental and Sanitary Engineer with a PhD in Energy, Water, and Environment from the University of La Serena, Juana Felipe, joins the Sustainable Development research line (L6), a space where she will seek to analyze and propose solutions to enhance the use of solar energy in the country with higher penetration rates and lower impact on communities.

Throughout her career, Felipe has developed research projects associated with environmental management, socio-environmental impacts, and renewable energies, with a special emphasis on sustainability. She has participated in studies on socio-environmental conflicts linked to wind projects in Brazil and in the characterization of compensatory measures in communities affected by energy infrastructure.

“When we talk about the concept of energy justice, it has three dimensions: distributive, which refers to how the benefits and costs of energy projects are distributed; procedural, which seeks to ensure the effective participation of communities in decision-making; and recognition, which involves making visible and respecting all stakeholders involved, including those historically excluded,” specifies Juana Felipe.

For the researcher, it is not just about compensating for impacts, but about ensuring that communities are part of the decision-making process. In her first project at SERC Chile, Felipe will focus on the analysis of compensatory measures in wind farms for green hydrogen generation in the Magallanes region, where large initiatives are already under development. Her work, carried out alongside researcher Cristiane Carvalho from the same research line, will establish guidelines on the practical inputs needed for decision-makers, both from the public and private sectors, to balance the costs and benefits of these projects at local and regional levels.

Additionally, the researcher will explore new areas of impact, such as waste management in solar photovoltaic parks and the development of autonomous energy communities—models that could provide solutions to energy poverty. This is a relevant area of research, considering that 34% of households in urban areas have unequal access to quality energy services, according to data from the Energy Poverty Network (Red PE) and the Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2).

“The energy transition is fundamental, but its implementation must consider those who inhabit the territories. Without real participation, sustainable development remains incomplete,” points out Felipe.

Finally, Juan Felipe has experience in solid waste and environmental auditing, experience that has allowed him to address issues such as the reverse logistics of domestic pharmaceutical waste and the sustainability of wind farms. With his arrival at SERC Chile, a new line of work opens up focused on connecting academia with the reality of communities, ensuring sustained progress toward clean energy.