Abstract
The scope of this research is to explore the relations between energy poverty, quality of life and renewable energy. First, an analysis of concept evolution, economic and social implications and the difficulties in assessing energy poverty was conducted by analyzing the data from Eurostat regarding electricity prices for households and arrears on utility bills between 2009 and 2018 and the solutions for combating energy poverty from the EU. In the next part, a cross-country analysis regarding Granger causality between indicators representing all three dimensions was conducted. The period of the analysis was between 2010 and 2019 for the 28 EU member states. In the final part of the article, the situation of Romania was analyzed. The phenomenon of energy poverty is not marginal but is underestimated and superficially approached. Starting from the dominant discussions on the concepts and tools practiced at international level, this article makes a proposal for a working model for various regions in Romania, taking in consideration the financial potential of the geographic areas and the possibilities of accessing unconventional energies by local communities. Through a case study based on the analysis of relevant energy resource statistics, the article identifies main shortcomings and opportunities for Romania and proposes concrete recommendations of sustainable public policies on the elimination of energy poverty. In some geographic areas where this was not possible, we propose how to diminish the effects of this social phenomenon. Our proposals for the case study focus on supporting populations in areas where access to energy sources is difficult and there is a lack of energy infrastructure, the government programs being an alternative to access green (renewable) energies. Even if this may seem expensive to some specialists in the economy, access to energy sources of any kind brings social advantages by improving quality of life-in this case, a real victory in the fight against energy poverty.
Highlights
The launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by United Nations Organization, in 2015, demonstrated the importance of access to energy in order to ensure the quality of life for all the citizens
Even the Millennium Development Goals advocated for reducing extreme poverty, improving living conditions and sustaining progress for sustainable development, no direct reference to access to energy was done [1,2]
The scope of this research is to explore the relations between energy poverty, quality of life and renewable energy for EU countries and especially for Romania
Summary
The launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by United Nations Organization, in 2015, demonstrated the importance of access to energy in order to ensure the quality of life for all the citizens. Even the Millennium Development Goals advocated for reducing extreme poverty, improving living conditions and sustaining progress for sustainable development, no direct reference to access to energy was done [1,2] This situation was remedied in 2015, the energy being the topic of a distinct goal, with many connections and with other objectives. The energy problem has become more nuanced by launching the concept of clean energy or sustainable energy because the poor population is frequently in the situation of using polluting fuels, with negative effects on the health of the users and the environment [2,3,4,5] The magnitude of this phenomenon worldwide and its consequences on the population are demonstrated by the statements of World Health Organization officials who have declared that energy poverty generates more deaths compared to malaria or tuberculosis [2]. In the final part of article, the situation of Romania is analyzed in order to propose concrete measures for mitigation of this phenomenon
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