Measure Of Energy Poverty Research Articles

Energy poverty measurement and determinants in rural China: Does education inequality matter?

Due to the pressing need to attain sustainable development goal 7, global attention on addressing energy poverty has increased. Improving rural education has been recognized as a strategy to mitigate energy poverty in rural China. However, the presence of education inequality remains a substantial challenge to energy poverty alleviation and underexamined. Our research aims to evaluate rural energy poverty levels systematically and investigate the impact of education inequality on rural energy poverty. This study begins by employing a novel weighting approach to develop a comprehensive indicator system, which accurately measures the extent of energy poverty in rural China. Subsequently, a panel fixed-effects model is utilized to analyze the causal impact of education inequality on rural energy poverty. Furthermore, the study explores the heterogeneity and potential mechanisms of education inequality on rural energy poverty. Findings reveal a decline in rural energy poverty from 2005 to 2020, and the nature of energy poverty has substantially transformed, with a greater prominence of using unclean and unaffordable energy sources. Education inequality increases rural energy poverty and indirectly affects it by reducing the income of rural residents. The influence of education inequality on rural energy poverty exhibits heterogeneity in both time and region. Policy recommendations are proposed for mitigating energy poverty and promoting education equality in rural areas.

Comparative analysis of energy poverty definition and measurement in Portugal and Spain

This paper aims to critically analyse and compare the definition and measurement of energy poverty reflected in the national policy strategies in Portugal and Spain and propose recommendations for their enhancement. The analysis is supported by a systematic literature review of indicators in the Iberian context. Results highlight that both definitions can benefit from broadening the scope and increasing the representativeness of energy services and types of vulnerability. Measurement can be enhanced using available data and indicators for increasing comprehensiveness, reducing redundancy, and considering depth and persistence. Higher effectiveness in energy-poor households’ identification requires increased indicator intersectionality and alternative indicators.

Should the European Union prioritize renewable energy or tackle energy poverty?

Energy poverty is a type of poverty that is not solely based on monetary factors. It has recently been highlighted in the literature alongside the acknowledgment of energy as a key component of sustainable economic growth. Many studies focus on replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources to address this issue. This study aims to analyze the impact of renewable energy consumption on energy poverty in the European Union from 1996 to 2020. The study incorporates a control variable, developed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to account for economic development. Second-generation panel data tests and the Common Correlated Effects Model are utilized to assess the short and long-term effects. The findings indicate that the control variable had no significant impact on energy poverty during the relevant period. Still, renewable energy consumption had both positive effects in developed countries and negative effects in transition economies. According to the results, energy poverty measures remain a key priority in most of Europe's energy policies. This highlights the significance of ensuring that the underprivileged section of society has access to affordable and sustainable energy sources.

Impacts of workplace automation on energy poverty: The new challenge of achieving SDG 7 in the context of technological revolution

This paper systematically examines how workplace automation impacts energy poverty from a demand-side perspective, revealing a new challenge for Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) in the context of technological revolution. Our research demonstrates that workplace automation significantly increases household energy poverty. This finding is robust when using the instrumental variable approach to tackle endogeneity, as well as employing different automation and energy poverty measures, placebo tests, and machine learning methods for robustness checks. Automation's impact mechanism is that it reduces people's income and work-related social capital, thus exposing households to higher risks of energy poverty. Moreover, its consequences are more prominent for rural households, less educated people, non-migrants, those without labor contracts, non trade-union members, and out-of-system workers. Thus enhancing human capital, promoting free movement of workers, and providing better labor protection contribute to weakening the adverse impact of the technological shock. Meanwhile, we find that improving the price reasonability, stability, security and accessibility of energy supply can also mitigate the negative effects of workplace automation on household energy consumption. In the dual context of the fourth technological revolution promoting industrial automation as well as the increasing urgency to achieve SDG 7, findings of this paper have important policy implications.

Defining of the energy poverty of the state through the analysis of Belt and Road influence on its alleviation in the context of sustainable development

Energy poverty is an issue, which is new to the scientific field and often omitted from the research. The contemporary approaches to it are various, still the major of them points that energy poverty exists in case the national energy sector and the economy in general lack the possibilities to provide sufficient, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to the consumers. This paper examines the energy sector of Pakistan to prove or refute the idea of energy poverty existence in the country. In addition to that the energy poverty in Pakistan, in case it exists needs to be defined, its reasons are to be examined and the possible solutions for its alleviation provided. The paper proves the mentioned idea with the help of the approach from the side of international infrastructure construction. The proposed approach includes the examination of the role of BRI in energy poverty alleviation in Pakistan. While the Initiative has a significant impact on the economy of the country, its energy sector isn’t directly affected by BRI. The major results of the study encompass the following: the energy poverty measurement through index method is developed, based on demand for energy and its supply and imports’ changes; the energy poverty in Pakistan persists and can’t be alleviated by the international institutions; the effects of economic growth aren’t automatically distributed in the economy, especially in the energy sector of the country and have limited effects on energy poverty.

Household welfare improvement in the Mbulu district of Tanzania: does rural electrification matter?

Access to electricity is crucial for basic human activities and serves as a direct measure of energy poverty.

Understanding Energy Poverty among the Elderly: Insights from a Household Survey in Greece

Understanding the determinants of energy poverty among the elderly is crucial for shaping energy policies with significant economic and social implications. This research provides valuable insights into the factors influencing energy poverty among the elderly in Greece. To achieve the study’s objectives, household survey data from 3651 elderly individuals for the year 2022 were utilized. The empirical findings, based on statistical and econometric analysis, affirm the influence of socioeconomic factors on the ability of the elderly to meet their energy needs and address energy poverty challenges. The analysis suggests that both household size and work-related pensions positively impact their ability to address their heating requirements. Elderly individuals with a higher level of education are less likely to experience energy poverty. Additionally, it is found that as perceived health status declines, elderly individuals are more likely to encounter difficulties in covering utility payments. These results underscore the importance of tailoring strategies to promote the adoption of energy poverty measures that cater to diverse demographic and income groups. This information is vital for ensuring that the elderly can afford to maintain a comfortable living environment without sacrificing other essential needs.

Measurement of energy poverty in the Colombian Caribbean region: a comparative analysis

This research work is directed to analyze the level of energy poverty and its consequences on the quality of life of the population of the Colombian Caribbean region, by doing a comparison of the results obtained in that area with data regarding the population of Bogotá, capital of Colombia, and of the rest of the country. The method of meeting absolute energy needs was used to determine the energy poverty index at households (EPH). Results obtained indicate that EPH exceeds 60% in urban areas, and 96% in rural zones, where it was also evidenced a clear link between energy poverty and school dropout.

Financial inclusion's impact on energy poverty: Evidence from Indonesia

This study tests the association between financial inclusion and energy poverty in Indonesia. It adopts multi-dimensional energy poverty and financial inclusion measures employing the 2018 Statistics Indonesia data. The energy poverty measures cover six indicators, i.e., the primary cooking fuel, indoor air pollution, lighting, ownership of household appliances, and supporting essential services such as education, entertainment, and communication. On the other hand, the financial inclusion variable involves household access to banks, credit, and insurance. In testing the financial inclusion-energy poverty association, the present study performs the Two-Stage Least Square (2SLS) method, involving household distance to the nearest financial facilities as an instrument variable (IV) to overcome the potential endogeneity problem from the reverse causality between the financial inclusion and energy poverty. This analysis reports a robust negative and significant association between financial inclusion and energy poverty, bringing potential critical notes for Indonesia's policy formulation against energy poverty.

Enerji Yoksulluğunun Ölçülmesine İlişkin Literatür İncelemesi

This article analyzes the studies on energy poverty and its measurement between 2004 and 2022. A search of the Web of Science database with the keyword "energy poverty measurement" yielded 195 articles, among which 69 articles were found. In the study, first of all, information about the definition of energy poverty, the problems it causes and its determining criteria. In the next step, other determinants of energy poverty are explained with the help of graphs and tables. In the methodology section, the articles are analyzed in detail according to the economic development of the countries and the measurement models used. Finally, conclusions and recommendations are presented and future work is suggested to find a universally accepted measurement model.

Does Income Affect Climbing the Energy Ladder? A New Utility-Based Approach for Measuring Energy Poverty

Energy poverty measures are gradually becoming less relevant for fast-developing countries, where the energy mix consists of traditional and modern energies. We propose a new approach for measuring energy poverty by modifying the Exact Affine Stone Index (EASI) demand system to include implied disutility of energy use. The disutility arises from the effects of price or income changes and the use of polluting energies. Using data from Vietnam, we found that energy poverty could happen at higher income levels than the level considered in the literature, and higher incomes may not encourage households to climb the energy ladder. However, consuming carbon-intensive fuel does not necessarily mean energy poor.

Does nanotechnology contribute to energy poverty reduction?

PurposeNanotechnology's rapid development worldwide is a significant measure for countries to strengthen the building of energy security. Thus, to empirically investigate the underlying effect of nanotechnology on energy poverty alleviation, the authors of this study assess the impact of nanotechnology on alleviating energy poverty in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe paper used panel data for 56 developing countries over the period 2012–2019, by employing dynamic generalised method of moments (GMM) analysis.FindingsThe findings showed that the emergence of nanotechnology has a significant trend in increasing energy poverty in developing countries. This suggests that whilst nanotechnology may be a promising solution for addressing energy poverty in certain contexts, nanotechnology may not be the most viable option for reducing poverty in developing countries. The findings have added credence as the findings are robust to the inclusion of alternative energy poverty measures and additional controlled variables.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough this study results show unpromising outcomes in addressing energy poverty in developing countries, the authors believe that this may be a short-term phenomenon. In the long run, policies and programs must be put in place to support the development and deployment of nanotechnology to reduce energy poverty.Originality/valueThe authors believe this is the first attempt to examine the dynamic influence of nanotechnology development on energy poverty in developing countries. From the standpoint of nanotechnology development, this can help policymakers develop rules and regulations to tackle energy poverty.

Does energy poverty increase health care expenditures in China?

ABSTRACT Using the 2012–2018 waves of the China Family Panel Studies, we investigate the impact of energy poverty (EP) on health care expenditures among Chinese adults aged 18+. Employing a methodology combining a random effects two-part model and instrumental variable estimations, we show that EP leads to higher levels of total (305 yuan/year), out-of-pocket (199 yuan/year), inpatient (230 yuan/year) and other (113 yuan/year) health care expenditures, with more pronounced impacts among females and those living in urban areas and Eastern China. These results are robust not only to alternative EP and health care expenditure measures but also to a series of estimation approaches that control for endogeneity. An additional structural equation modelling analysis of the underlying pathways further reveals that this EP-health care expenditure relationship is mediated by individual self-reported health as well as expenditures on food and other daily necessities. Combating EP is an effective way to improve people’s health and reduce the burden on health care expenditures. Policymakers should also pay more attention to vulnerable groups such as women.

Digital divide and household energy poverty in China

This study explores whether and how the digital divide affects household energy poverty in China. Based on China Family Panel Studies data, the digital divide index at the household level is constructed using the factor analysis method. We then examine the effects of the digital divide on household energy poverty. The results suggest that the digital divide hinders the reduction of household energy poverty. Our results are robust against different energy poverty measures. We also conduct the heterogeneity analysis of income groups, age groups, and urban and rural households. The findings demonstrate that the digital divide has a greater negative impact on alleviating energy poverty in low-income households, older households, and rural households. It also inhibits household energy poverty reduction by increasing income poverty and credit constraints, reducing employment, and weakening social capital. For developing countries such as China, the digital economy has developed rapidly. Nevertheless, the digital divide will inevitably impair the energy poverty reduction and welfare of some households. In digital economic development, we need to focus on the digital economy's efficiency, fairness, and inclusive development. Our findings can provide a micro basis for constructing the digital divide index, economic impact assessment, and policy design to narrow the digital divide in developing countries.

Estimation of household energy poverty and feasibility of clean energy transition: Evidence from rural areas in the Eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Energy poverty has attracted widespread attention from the government and researchers for its close relationship with human well-being and resident health. Estimating the energy poverty line is essential in understanding energy poverty and alleviating it. However, there is no consensus on the measurement of energy poverty. This paper defined the energy poverty line as the threshold at which energy consumption ceases to change significantly as household income increases, which is based on the household minimum energy demand. Considering the environmental endowment in Qinghai, this paper established new scenarios to examine the feasibility of replacing biomass with clean electricity. The findings show that 31.6% of rural households are energy poor in Qinghai. Basic energy demand has been met in Qinghai, but there are difficulties in shifting to a more efficient energy structure. Income, residents’ consumption habits and technical issues with clean energy equipment continue to limit the energy choices of rural households. Therefore, improving the actual performance of clean energy devices is critical in the clean energy transition. In addition, local governments can increase incentives for clean energy utilization by setting reasonable subsidies for clean energy.

Measurement of Energy Poverty and Influencing Factors of Rural Households in China

Measurement of Energy Poverty and Influencing Factors of Rural Households in China

Assessing the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on energy poverty in EU countries using the Index of Energy Poverty

Energy poverty is a distinct form of poverty and consists of difficulties in meeting the basic energy needs of household members. Even in "normal" times, energy poverty appears as a phenomenon with substantial implications for the quality of human life. But combined with the COVID-19 pandemic placed an enormous strain on households' energy costs. Energy poverty is an important concept because it affects millions of people worldwide and has significant implications for human health and well-being. In the EU, even before the pandemic, in 2018 almost 34 million Europeans were unable to afford to keep their homes adequately warm. In 2020 there were about 36 million Europeans suffered from this problem.The author intended to create a multidimensional measure of energy poverty (Index of Energy Poverty, IEP), based on which a ranking of EU countries from the most to the least vulnerable to this phenomenon was created. IEP values were calculated for two years - 2019 and 2021 - to assess the potential impact of the pandemic on the scale of this phenomenon. To estimate IEP, multidimensional comparative methods were used in a dynamic approach. Despite rising recognition of energy poverty significance, there are no universally accepted methodologies for assessing the level of this phenomenon and comparing it across nations due to differences in climate, housing base, and the relationship between income and energy expenses. However, a standard methodology for assessing energy poverty is required, and understanding the long-term dynamics of energy poverty might be critical for sensible and effective policies to combat this phenomenon.

A multidimensional energy poverty measurement in China - Based on the entropy method

Although energy poverty has obtained wide focus in recent years, there is no consensus on the measurement of energy poverty. Given that China is experiencing socio-economic transformation as well as energy transition, this paper employed a total of 28 indicators, which representing three categories (energy service availability, energy consumption and generation cleanliness, and residential energy affordability and efficiency) that capture China's features as well as consider policy factors, to develop a new multi-dimensional energy poverty index by using entropy weight method. The result reveals that the energy poverty level has been improved nationwide for the period 2014–2019; three sub-indices also show downward trends while household energy affordability and efficiency suggests the fastest improvement; however, significant differences exist in energy poverty not only between urban and rural areas but also across provinces in China. Policy recommendations are as follows: continue to promote rural power grid renovation and upgrading and the construction of natural gas pipelines, increase clean energy support; encourage diversified development of rural energy supply methods, and provide more innovative and diversified green energy and financial products.

Examining energy poverty in Chinese households: An Engel curve approach

AbstractThis article is first to model energy poverty in Chinese households using an Engel curve approach. To analyse the determinants of energy poverty and energy expenditures across households, we avail the 2015 wave of the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). Possible presence of endogeneity is accounted for in the model specification as well as by using the Lewbel heteroscedasticity identified endogenous variables estimator. In addition, we are the first to scrutinise disparity and discrimination by conducting the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition of energy poverty model by gender, ethnicity, region (Eastern vs. non‐Eastern provinces), and urbanisation status (rural vs. urban residents). Our analysis shows: (i) education is the key determinant of various energy poverty measures and energy expenditure shares across Chinese households; (ii) other determinants including fossil fuel mix and electricity price discrimination are found to worsen energy poverty, on average. However, fossil fuel mix is found to increase expenditure share of total energy, electricity, and coal and decrease that of biomass; and (iii) the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition analyses show no statistically significant gender or ethnic discrimination in energy poverty rates. However, there is substantial divide between Eastern and non‐Eastern provinces and between rural and urban households—with these groups also discriminated against when accessing clean cooking fuels and technologies. The Blinder–Oaxaca results also generally support the logistic and the Lewbel energy poverty model findings.

Decomposing energy poverty in three components

In this paper, we decompose a family of energy poverty indices into incidence, intensity and inequality among the poor. When continuous variables such as income are used, it is well known that any income poverty index should take into account these three poverty terms. Therefore, every energy poverty measure should also take into account these three. We propose to follow an analogous idea to decompose a family of energy poverty indices in these three components. The novelty of this proposal is that the multidimensional family of energy poverty measures is applied to multiple dichotomous variables and not to a single continuous variable, when, to date, no decomposition has been proposed based on these types of variables. We then extend this decomposition to a further decomposition by population subgroups. In this way, we will be able to know more precisely the origins of energy poverty in order to implement more specific anti-poverty policies targeting the incidence, intensity or/and inequality among the energy poor. Finally, we apply the proposed decomposition to Spain in 2020 as regards certain individual and household characteristics, so as to identify the individuals most likely to suffer from energy poverty in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.