Field work on Zapatera Island (Nicaragua) to analyze energy access projects and the socioeconomic conditions of the area

Bruno Domenech, together with Matteo Ranaboldo (from CITCEA-UPC), carried out a field stay on Zapatera Island (Nicaragua) in April 2026, with the aim of studying energy access conditions in isolated rural communities and gaining a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic reality of the territory. During the visit, they travelled through four communities without electricity and one with solar microgrids. The fieldwork made it possible to collect relevant technical and socioeconomic information for future cooperation initiatives and sustainable energy development projects in the region.
Special thanks to the families of Zapatera Island for their warm welcome and hospitality, as well as to Jaime Muñoz and Marco Cárcamo for their logistical and personal support throughout the stay. The funding provided by the UPC Development Cooperation Centre, which made this study possible, is also gratefully acknowledged.