ETO - Energy for All: energy transition methodology
- Javier Trespalacios
- Jan 19, 2017
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 25
ETO (acronym for Energía para TOdos, Energy for All in English, Energie pour TOus in French) is a methodology that facilitates access to renewable energy and promotes sustainable development. Developed by the NGO Ecotechsy —based in Geneva, Switzerland, and linked to the United Nations in projects for Africa, Asia, and Latin America— it empowers vulnerable communities to design, implement, and manage sustainable energy projects.
ETO - Energy for All
Created in collaboration with Professor François Maréchal, director of the IPESE laboratory at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), along with his master's student Javier Trespalacios, ETO translates complex energy concepts into practical, simple, and accessible tools for everyone.
Components and approach
ETO simplifies technical knowledge about renewable energies through an integrated approach that includes:
Renewable Energy Calculations: Simplified methodologies for sizing energy systems.
Bioclimatic Concepts: Utilizing natural conditions to reduce energy consumption.
Eco-Neighborhood Design: Planning sustainable and self-sufficient settlements.
Territorial Energy Planning: Strategies to optimize energy resources at a regional level.
Its participatory approach allows individuals without technical training or experience to perform calculations, estimates, and viable proposals. Any community, even without prior access to formal education, can install, maintain, and manage these systems with basic training.
Ecotechsy has actively collaborated in the implementation of territorial strategies guided by sustainable development, creating specific tools to measure and evaluate the impact of these initiatives in different social and geographical contexts.
Inspiration from Samsø: a eeplicable model
The Danish island of Samsø is the main inspiration for ETO. Between 1997 and 2007, this community achieved energy self-sufficiency through collectively managed wind and biomass projects. This case demonstrated that the energy transition is primarily a social and community challenge (Jørgensen et al., 2007).
ETO adopts this principle of participation, adapting it to different contexts such as in Colombia, with its unique socioeconomic and environmental conditions.
Application in the colombian Post-Conflict context
In Colombia, ETO was applied to drive sustainable development in areas affected by the armed conflict, especially on lands returned to displacement victims. As a participant in the peace process with the FARC, Ecotechsy integrated this methodology into the strategies of the Land Restitution Office, linking transitional justice with sustainability and enabling the productive development of recovered territories.
Ecotechsy worked in regions such as La Guajira, Caquetá, and Urabá, training local communities to:
Develop renewable energy projects tailored to their needs.
Create green jobs in installation and maintenance.
Reduce dependency on unsustainable or illicit activities.
Strengthen territorial roots through productive projects.
The methodology allows individuals without prior experience in electrical installations to implement them safely after basic training, turning energy into a tool for peace and development.
Creation of Green Jobs
A fundamental pillar of ETO is the creation of "decent jobs that contribute to preserving and restoring the environment" (ILO, 2015). These jobs are characterized by:
Positive Environmental Impact: They reduce energy consumption and emissions.
Dignified Working Conditions: They offer adequate wages and safety.
Accessibility: They are attainable for vulnerable populations without formal education.
Economic Sustainability: They generate long-term community value.
Territorial Anchoring: They leverage local resources and knowledge.
In Colombia, ETO promotes roles in installing solar, wind, and biogas systems, maintenance using local resources, community advising, and microgrid management, thereby improving quality of life and providing economic alternatives for ex-combatants and victims (Vargas-Chaves et al., 2016).
Results and challenges
Despite significant achievements, ETO has faced obstacles such as discontinuous funding, initial resistance to change, security issues in certain areas, and administrative complexities in the restitution processes. However, where it has been successfully implemented, the following have been observed:
Reduced use of polluting fuels.
New sustainable local jobs.
Improved quality of life with access to stable electricity.
Strengthening of the social fabric.
Consolidation of productive projects on restituted lands.
Conclusion
ETO represents a bridge between specialized technical knowledge and community action, demonstrating that the energy transition can be inclusive. Its application in the Colombian post-conflict context evidences its potential as a tool for reconstruction.
Its focus on technological simplification makes it possible for anyone, regardless of educational level, to participate in building local capacities and green jobs, making it a valuable methodology for territories seeking to overcome the aftermath of conflict.
Inspired by models such as Samsø and adapted to local realities, this methodology lays the foundation for initiatives that integrate environmental sustainability, social justice, and economic development, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and the land restitution processes (UNDP, 2016).
Bibliographic References
Jørgensen, P. J., Hermansen, S., & Johnsen, A. (2007). Samsø – A renewable energy island: Development and evaluation. PlanEnergi.
International Labour Organization. (2015). Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World. ILO.
United Nations Development Programme. (2016). Peacebuilding and Sustainable Development in Colombia: The Role of Renewable Energy. UNDP.
Vargas-Chaves, I., Marrugo-Salas, L., & Luna-Galván, M. (2016). Circular Economy, Green Economy and Employability in the Colombian Post-Conflict. Revista de Derecho Ambiental, 12(3), 45-62.
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