How modern are renewables? The misrecognition of traditional solar thermal energy in Peru's energy transition

The ubiquitous claim for ‘modern’ energy access leads to profound transformative dynamics in energy systems in the global South. However, the policies' effects on existing socio-technical forms of energy provision must be considered. In this paper, we highlight the case of Peru, where the ‘modernisation’ of the energy systems endangers an established practice of renewable energy use. In the city of Arequipa, households widely rely on solar water heaters that have been manufactured locally since the 1930s. Applying an institutionalist approach, we analyse actors and institutions of this local energy system. We identify a disconnection of existing renewable energy practices from national policies and their marginalisation by international cooperation agencies. We show how the misrecognition jeopardises the livelihood of people involved and provokes the loss of contextualised innovation potentials. Thus, we discover a dichotomy of ‘modern’ energy policies and ‘traditional’ practices of solar thermal energy. Based on this case study, we therefore stress the need to include local energy practices into the energy policy framework for ensuring technological and social gains. We also emphasise the need to generally shift away from a top-down approach with generalised globally applicable solutions to more inclusive governance and policy formulation.