Energy Transition from a Local Perspective:

A Comparative Analysis of the Cases of Ibarlucea (Santa Fe) and Los Pinos (Buenos Aires)

Abstract

The sustainable energy transition constitutes a complex socio-technical challenge. This study examines how territorial specificities and socio-spatial vulnerabilities influence the internal configuration and scaling potential of energy innovation niches. The article presents a comparative case analysis based on two local renewable generation experiences in Argentina: the biogas plant in Los Pinos (Buenos Aires) and the distributed photovoltaic generation facility in Ibarlucea (Santa Fe). The main objective is to explore whether the adoption of these technologies transcends the energy sphere, acting as a vehicle for social integration that addresses deficits in the provision of basic services and socio-environmental problems. The Los Pinos project is driven by the scientifictechnological system through external funding, developed in a vulnerable rural context with a weak institutional structure. In contrast, the Ibarlucea initiative was launched by the local Energy Cooperative in response to energy poverty in a peri-urban environment, within the framework of a just energy transition plan supported by public funding. Both cases exemplify innovation niches that propose alternative processes to the dominant energy and production regime. Although they face limitations related to access to resources and community management, they can serve as experimental cases that demonstrate the feasibility of local transition processes with the potential to be replicated in other territories.