Case Studies

Once any project supported by WISIONS is successfully completed it becomes part of our body of case studies. Here, we systematically reflect upon the outcomes and impacts on people’s livelihoods. 

Lack of trust in and information about decentralized renewable energy solutions is still a main challenge to accelerating just energy transitions in contexts of the global south. WISIONS case studies provide practical illustrations of what works – and what doesn’t – for driving local sustainable development of people by improving access to clean energy.

With over 130 innovative energy projects completed since WISIONS founding in 2004, we built up a considerable amount of knowledge that is open to use for every researcher and practitioner.

Knowledge Exchanges

A special subtype of projects are knowledge exchanges. Their aim is to facilitate South-South knowledge exchange between practitioners, organisations and other stakeholders. We firmly believe that access to knowledge empowers individuals to become the drivers of their own energy transformations. That's why we have supported nearly 30 exchanges so far.

Case Study Database

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Biogas from Slaughterhouse Waste Water Treatment for Heating Purposes

The focus of the project is to demonstrate the potential for producing biogas from slaughterhouse wastewater treatment in Ecuador. Previous research in Bolivia has shown the viability of treating wastewater using tubular digesters with low cost anaerobic filters.

An Integrated Biogas-Water System for Sustainable Water Heating and Food Production in Arid Environments

This project aims to address the challenge of water scarcity in mountainous regions of Colombia by introducing an integrated biogas-water system at a hotel in the region.

Modular Power to the People: Democratising Energy Access through Modular Power Electronics Systems

The goal of this exchange activity is to create an open-source power converter that can be used in the implementation of self-built wind turbines as well as for other technologies.

Gasification and Biodigestion to Improve Small & Medium Scale Colombian Coffee Farms

This project aims to implement a suite of three technologies: gasification-fuelled cookstoves, tubular plug-flow biodigesters and gasification-fuelled coffee dryers. Using a participative process, six of these demonstration suites will be implemented in five departments of Colombia: Santander (2), Meta, Antioquia, Cauca and Caldas.

Exchange: “Where the Winds Meet” – Local Construction of Small Wind Turbines in Última Esperanza, Chile

This exchange activity aims to create a local knowledge group for the self-construction of small-scale wind turbines (SWT) in the south of Chile, through an international exchange of knowledge with Argentinian members of the WindEmpowerment network.

Exchange: Community Trainers for Renewable Energy Technology Use in Sustainable Food Production and Water Management

The focus of this exchange activity is a social alliance and collective learning process between NGOs and rural communities from three regions of Colombia (Santander, Córdoba and Antioquia). It is based on the accumulated results achieved previously in a WISIONS supported project and ongoing community work in the field of renewable energy and sustainable livelihood strategies.

Validating a Novel Approach to the Productive Use of Biogas to Empower Medium Scale Dairy and Pig Farmers in Costa Rica

This project aims to validate the feasibility of an innovative approach to the productive use of biogas in dairy and pig farms in Costa Rica, avoiding the use of electrical generators.

Micro Hydro Power Resource & Services Centre in Chitral, Pakistan

This project aims to improve the reliability and sustainability of micro hydro power plants in Chitral, Pakistan.

RISE - Rebuilding Infrastructure for Sustainable Energy Access

This project aims to contribute to the vision of “Building Back Better” to rebuild disaster-resilient communities by restoring sustainable energy access. The contribution will be in the form of the restoration of the earthquake-struck micro hydro systems in order that the livelihood options for communities and individuals can be re-established.

Hybridisation of an Existing Micro Hydro Plant with Solar PV and Integration with the Grid

The project aims to integrate an existing micro hydro power unit into the national grid to prevent it from becoming non-operational and to demonstrate the potential of a grid-connected micro hydro solar hybrid system. Solar power will ensure the reliability of export of power to the grid during dry season while micro hydro becomes partly functional.