Desenganche

Jóvenes por el Clima Argentina - Desenganche Project

Desenganche

Formalizing and integrating a vulnerable urban neighborhood through a resident-owned cooperative that builds, sells, and installs solar water heaters.

City of Buenos Aires

Argentina

Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit

In Argentina, over 1.2 million families live in Barrios Populares (informal neighborhoods), where access to essential services like safe electricity, gas, and water is often limited or non-existent. In the absence of formal infrastructure, residents rely on precarious and unsafe electrical connections, frequently using resistor-based water heaters that are prone to overheating and short-circuiting. These heaters increase the risk of electrocution, fires, and other accidents, putting lives in constant danger. Each year, these unsafe methods result in numerous fatalities and injuries, further exacerbating the cycle of poverty. The lack of affordable and compatible technologies deepens social inequalities, preventing families from transitioning to reliable, clean, and safe energy sources. While solar water heaters (SWHs) could offer a sustainable alternative, they are often too expensive, complex, or incompatible with informal housing structures, making them inaccessible for most residents. This technological gap leaves families trapped in energy poverty, relying on hazardous and inefficient heating methods. Desenganche aims to address this issue by providing a locally manufactured, affordable solution: solar water heaters tailored to the needs of informal settlements. Our approach tackles both energy insecurity and economic exclusion, helping to reduce risks while empowering local communities to thrive.

Desenganche’s solution addresses energy poverty in Barrios Populares by producing affordable solar water heaters (SWHs) designed for informal housing. Traditional SWHs are too costly and incompatible with these neighborhoods’ infrastructure. Our technology, currently finalizing its prototype, has been tested to work in these specific conditions, ensuring safety and effectiveness. We are establishing a community-led factory in Villa 20 to scale production. In July 2025, we will begin training local residents to build and install these heaters, creating green jobs and providing renewable energy skills. The business model focuses on producing and selling SWHs at accessible prices while ensuring financial sustainability. Revenue will come from direct household sales, partnerships with housing cooperatives, and municipal or NGO-led programs supporting clean energy in informal settlements. By manufacturing locally, we significantly reduce costs compared to imports and generate local employment. We also plan to partner with microfinance institutions to offer installment-based payment options for low-income households. Desenganche’s model aims for financial independence, ensuring long-term availability and affordability of clean energy solutions for communities in need.

Desenganche’s solution serves residents of Barrios Populares, particularly those in Villa 20, who lack access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy. Villa 20 is a marginalized neighborhood in Buenos Aires, home to a large population of migrants, many of whom face challenges such as inadequate housing, precarious employment, and exclusion from essential services. The lack of formal infrastructure, including safe electricity connections, forces residents to rely on dangerous, makeshift systems that increase fire and electrocution risks. Desenganche addresses these challenges by producing affordable solar water heaters locally, specifically designed for informal housing. Our approach not only provides access to safe energy but also empowers the community through green jobs and skills training, particularly for youth, women, and marginalized groups. This training equips residents with transferable skills in renewable energy manufacturing and installation, fostering long-term employment and economic inclusion. By establishing a local factory, Desenganche ensures ongoing access to clean energy technology, reducing dependency on external aid and promoting self-sufficiency. This model strengthens social resilience, advances energy justice, and offers a sustainable economic solution for communities previously excluded from such opportunities, directly improving their lives.