Inclusive and Clean Energy for SMEs in Rural Bolivia

Summary

Bolivia has achieved high rates of electricity access, yet rural and semi-rural producers still face major barriers to securing reliable, affordable energy for productive use. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agrifood sector play a central role in ensuring national food security and creating employment. However, they remain highly dependent on fossil-fuel-powered pumps with negative implications for productivity and competitiveness. Distributed renewable energy systems (RES) could help overcome these barriers while supporting Bolivia’s energy transition. However, challenges exist to align RES with the technical, temporal, and logistical requirements of site-specific agricultural operations. The technology is unknown to remote farmers and SME owners, the upfront costs are high, and suppliers are concentrated in urban areas.

The GENERIS project, implemented by Fundación Bariloche, delivered eleven solar photovoltaic (PV) and three solar thermal pilots across seven of Bolivia’s nine departments. It carried out value chain analysis to show the technical viability of distributed solar energy and potential pathways for scaling. By revealing regulatory, financial, and market misalignments, the project helped shape national dialogue among regulators, distributors, financiers, and private suppliers. It has laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and practical energy transition.