The consumption patterns and determining factors of rural household energy: A case study of Henan Province in China

Abstract

This study considers the largest rural province in China, Henan Province, as an example to analyse government policies aimed at ensuring household energy supply and promoting the clean transformation of the rural energy structure. In addition, rural household energy consumption modes and the probability that families will purchase energy-consuming products are investigated. The factors that influence household energy consumption decisions and the energy ladder are examined with a logistic regression. The results show that “gas + electricity” has become the prevailing combined cooking energy pattern in the investigated rural area and that 33% of households use this type of cooking energy. Agricultural income has an obvious positive impact on the rural cooking energy ladder; moreover, increasing households’ agricultural income is important for promoting cleaner cooking energy consumption, as the total income level determines whether energy-consuming products are purchased. The process of urbanization could accelerate the upgrading of rural energy consumption because households with more members who work in or near cities have a greater motivation to use modern cooking energy sources. As economic development and income increase, it is important to implement energy transition policies to improve the supply and consumption of clean energy in rural areas.