Small (and not-so-small) villages in the Amazon

The challenge of access to electricity infrastructure

Bibliographic Data

ID13065787
AuthorsAntonio C P Brasil Junior (0000-0001-9528-9449), A C M Brasil (Universidade de Brasília), Rafael C F Mendes (Universidade de Brasília, corresponding author), José Lavaquial (Hanoi University of Business and Technology)
Year2026
Volume132
Pages104550-104550
Publication date2026-01-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnergy Research & Social Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2214-6296 • E-ISSN: 2214-6326
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.erss.2026.104550
OpenAlexW7125611788
LanguageEN
References cited19

This article analyzes electrification in small Amazonian villages, focusing on settlements of 1000–5000 inhabitants that face persistent deficits in basic services despite growing socio-economic complexity. To interpret this transitional condition, it introduces the concept of embryonic urbanity , which captures how emerging urban nuclei formulate collective demands for infrastructure, territorial inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Within this framework, electrification is shown to be a key driver of early urban consolidation and social development. The study then assesses renewable hybrid energy systems as alternatives to diesel-based generation in isolated grids. Simulation results using the platform HOMER-Pro indicate that hybridization could reduce annual diesel consumption by about 140.5 million liters, equivalent to 376.6 ktCO2e. These findings highlight hybrid systems as a strategic pathway for integrating universal access with decarbonization and resilient territorial development in the Amazon

Consumption (sociology · Electricity · Electrification · Human settlement · Informal settlements · Renewable energy · Rural electrification · Universal design · Urbanity · Energy and Environment Impacts · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Water Governance and Infrastructure

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