Community-Driven Solar Energy in Northern Thailand: A Governance-Specific Framework for Energy Justice in Marginalized Highland Communities

Abstract

This study develops a governance-specific framework for energy justice to address persistent inequities in renewable energy adoption within marginalized remote communities in Thailand. Focusing on Nong Prue Subdistrict, Kanchanaburi Province, the research employs a mixed-methods participatory design—including People Scorecards, Focus Group Discussions, and in-depth interviews—to examine how structural barriers, financial burdens, and institutional fragmentation constrain solar energy access in Western Thailand. Findings reveal that reliance on diesel generators imposes unsustainable economic and environmental costs, whereas solar systems offer viable alternatives if supported by inclusive governance, tailored financial mechanisms, and capacity-building.

Integrating Diffusion of Innovations and Social Practice theories, the study advances energy justice scholarship beyond technocratic models by highlighting how constrained decentralization and fragmented authority mediate renewable energy transitions. The proposed model synthesizes distributive, procedural, and recognition justice with participatory planning, offering a context-specific pathway to alleviate energy poverty. This research underscores the role of community agencies in shaping just solar transitions, providing empirical evidence and theoretical innovation for policy and practice in the Global South.