The Social Participation Methodology for R&D Aneel in Veredas Sol e Lares as an insurgent practice of energy transition

Abstract

This article presents the experience of the Veredas Sol e Lares Project, conducted in the Jequitinhonha Valley/MG and the Rio Pardo/MG region, which resulted in the development of the Social Participation Methodology for R&D Aneel (MPSPDA). The initiative combined the implementation of a Floating Photovoltaic Solar Plant (UFV) with practices of popular education, community organization, and territorial engagement, addressing the challenges of the climate crisis. The methodology was developed in a process-oriented and collective manner, inspired by Freirean pedagogy, action-research, and participatory methodologies, with a focus on training popular researchers and valuing the insurgent knowledge of the communities. The experience demonstrated that the popular energy transition requires more than technological innovations; it demands social arrangements capable of democratizing access, redistributing power, and overcoming the hegemonic and technocratic logic of the electricity sector. Key contributions include the systematization of steps that expand social participation in energy projects, the recognition of territorial knowledge as a foundation for new energy rationalities, and the creation of innovative institutional arrangements. The conclusion is that MPSPDA is an insurgent practice that shifts knowledge production to the communities’ field, forming a methodological contribution rooted in local experiences and a reference for climate justice.