In the small settlement of Pampa Clemesí, Rosa Chamami begins her day by igniting a fire with cardboard scraps, remnants of packaging for the high-tech solar panels that surround her home. Despite living next to Peru’s largest solar complex, the Rubí solar plant, Rosa and her neighbors remain in total darkness, unconnected to the power grid they can see but cannot access. While the plant produces 440 GWh of electricity annually, sufficient to power hundreds of thousands of homes, the 150 residents of Pampa Clemesí have been left without electricity, relying on torches and makeshift solutions for light.
Despite the region’s ideal solar conditions and a growing renewable energy sector in Peru, which witnessed a 96% growth in renewable electricity generation in 2024 alone, there’s a glaring disconnect between energy production and local access. Carlos Gordillo, an energy expert, highlights that the system was developed for profitability, neglecting rural populations. Although Orygen, the plant’s operator, states that they have invested in infrastructure to connect the village, including power towers and underground cables, the final connection to individual homes lies with the government, which has delayed necessary work meant to begin in March 2025.
Rosa’s home lacks basic electrical infrastructure, leading her to rely on community support to charge her phone, essential for communicating with family across the border. Others, like Rubén Pongo, who has invested in solar batteries and converters, experience limited power, running household essentials for only part of the day. The community lacks even basic amenities—no water system, waste management, or reliable transportation to access nearby markets—forcing residents to rely on makeshift materials and foraging for food.
As dusk approaches, the villagers gather with limited provisions, using gas or firewood for cooking, while the air fills with silent prayers amid flickering torchlight. Many residents recount their struggle with despair and hopelessness, yearning for the return of those who left due to lack of infrastructure. They dream of brighter days, but the absence of action devours their optimism. Even with abundant sunlight, their reality remains shrouded in darkness, waiting for change.
Rosa’s simple yet poignant response encapsulates their plight: they stay for the sun, holding on to the faint hope that one day their lives will illuminate with the very energy that surrounds them.
