Juan Guillermo Martinez

Colombian social entrepreneur who created the first rural electrification network

Juan Guillermo Martinez (1930-1997) transformed rural Colombia through his Electricidad para Todos initiative. Starting with a 1964 micro-hydro project in the Andes mountains, he developed a cooperative model that brought electricity to 800 remote villages by 1970. His community-based approach used locally sourced materials and trained farmers as technicians. The system's modular design inspired the UN's 1972 Rural Electrification Guidelines. Martinez also founded the Casa de la Energía museum in Medellín, showcasing indigenous energy innovations. His 1975 book Light Without Borders argued for decentralized energy systems, influencing Brazil's Amazonian electrification. Despite government opposition, his network persists through 120+ community cooperatives today.