Implementation Of Energy Efficiency Measures Research Articles

Diagnosis of GHG Emissions in an Offshore Oil and Gas Production Facility

This work presents a diagnosis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) platforms for oil and gas production offshore, using calculation methodologies from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To carry out this analysis, design data of an FPSO platform is used for the GHG emissions estimation, considering operations under steady conditions and oil and gas processing system simulations in the Aspen HYSYS® software. The main direct emission sources of GHG are identified, including the main combustion processes (gas turbines for electric generation and gas turbine-driven CO2 compressors), flaring and venting, as well as fugitive emissions. The study assesses a high CO2 content in molar composition of the associated gas, an important factor that is considered in estimating fugitive emissions during the processes of primary separation and main gas compression. The resulting information indicates that, on average, 95% of total emissions are produced by combustion sources. In the latest production stages of the oil and gas field, it consumes 2 times more energy and emits 2.3 times CO2 in terms of produced hydrocarbons. This diagnosis provides a baseline and starting point for the implementation of energy efficiency measures and/or carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies on the FPSO in order to reduce CO2 and CH4 emissions, as well as identify the major sources of emissions in the production process.

Energy Efficiency in Seasonal Homes: A Study on the Occupancy, Energy Use, and Renovation of Second Homes in Sweden

The escalating utilisation of second homes has led to an extension in heating periods and, to a certain degree, renovations to elevate the standard, resulting in augmented energy and resource consumption. A comprehensive survey was conducted in Sweden, examining user patterns across different seasons, heating systems, and implemented energy efficiency measures. The results indicate that second homes are occupied for extended periods during the summer season and intermittently throughout the year. Over half of the second homes are heated even when unoccupied, with 12% maintaining a temperature above 16 °C. The predominant heating method is direct electricity (32.2%), followed by heat pumps (29.5%) and stoves (17.5%). A variety of renovations are undertaken, primarily to enhance the standard and technical performance, but also to implement energy efficiency measures such as window replacement, additional insulation, or heat pump installation. Based on the reported user and heating patterns, and the energy renovations carried out, the potential energy savings with different energy renovation strategies were estimated for the Swedish second home stock. The results show that though lowering the temperature when a second home is unoccupied emerges as the most efficient measure, both in terms of cost-effectiveness and climate impact, it needs to be complemented with intermittent heating or dehumidification to ensure that the relative humidity is below critical levels, to avoid the risk of damages caused by, for example, mould growth. Installing a heat pump is the second most energy- and cost-effective measure and has the advantage that the indoor temperature can be maintained at rather high levels.

Passive over active: How low-cost strategies influence urban energy equity

This study delves into the energy burden on households, a crucial aspect of energy justice, influenced by urban environment factors and buildings’ passive and active designs. It evaluates the effects of passive and active design features on household energy expenditures at the census tract scale. Applying advanced Machine Learning techniques, including multiple and decision tree regressions, random forests, support vector machines, XGBoost, and Neural Networks, the research assesses the impact of various factors on the energy burden. Findings reveal that passive design elements significantly outweigh active ones in reducing energy costs at the urban scale, as confirmed by a model with a 94.8 % R2 accuracy. The insights provided are vital for policymakers, urban planners, architects, and researchers, pushing for sustainable urban planning and energy justice by prioritizing effective design strategies. This contributes to a broader understanding and implementation of energy-efficient measures in urban development.

Analyzing nonlinear and asymmetric effects of green finance and renewable energy on energy efficiency amidst technological innovation in E7 countries

The study aims to explore the relationship between green funding, green energy, and energy efficiency in E7 countries, guided by the SDG-7 guidelines recommended by the United Nations General Assembly. Methodologically, the study employs the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) and Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) techniques on data collected between 1988 and 2022. The rationale for this approach lies in its ability to capture both short-term and long-term dynamics in the relationship between green funding, green energy, and energy efficiency. Analysis of the data reveals varying stages of green funding growth among E7 countries, with China (1.52), Brazil (1.44), India (1.35), Indonesia (1.94), Mexico (1.73), and Russia (1.93) exhibiting different levels of progress. Russia and Turkey are identified as having the highest Gini coefficients in 2019, indicating disparities in green funding distribution within these countries. The empirical findings underscore the critical role of investment in the energy sector by both corporations and the public sector to enhance access to electricity, bolster energy security, and foster environmentally sustainable economic development. However, the study identifies insufficient investment as a fundamental obstacle hindering progress in green energy efficiency in E7 nations. Despite the potential for implementing energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources in E7 countries, the future remains uncertain due to existing obstacles in green financing and regulatory frameworks. Consequently, the paper emphasizes the imperative of addressing these obstacles to unlock the full funding potential for energy efficiency initiatives in E7 nations.

Prediction of pollutant emission characteristics in ISO50001 energy management in the Americas: Uni and multivariate machine learning approach

The American continent is experiencing significant economic and industrial development driven by sustainability principles. In this context, discussions on improving energy consumption have become increasingly frequent and dynamic across various sectors of civil society, including the implementation of energy efficiency measures as advocated by the ISO50001 energy management standard. However, there is a pressing need to investigate which socioeconomic aspects are responsible for the issuance of this certification in the Americas and how these factors relate to characteristic industrial emissions, especially particulate matter. This study aims to evaluate the socioeconomic factors influencing ISO50001 standard issuance and how these adjusted factors correlate with particulate matter of 2.5 μm and 10 μm dimensions. To achieve this, machine learning techniques were employed, considering the complex nature and risk of data overfitting. Model fitting was performed through multiple lasso regression, and the relationship between the adjusted factors was examined through cross-correlation analysis. The analyses indicate a strong correlation of adjusted macroeconomic indicators, especially with PM2.5, suggesting an association with cardiorespiratory problems and methane-related origins. This work is of great relevance to academia as it proposes new concepts regarding the interaction between energy efficiency standards and particulate matter. For the industrial sector, the adjusted factors provide guidance for standard implementation while also helping to mitigate health issues. Additionally, for the government, these results can assist in formulating policies to address specific health problems related to this area.

Feasibility and performance analysis of a net-zero energy residential building in tropical climates: A case of Congo-Brazzaville

Current building techniques in developing countries have become extremely critical. The net-zero energy concept has emerged as an essential strategy for minimising energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. However, its implementation, particularly in developing countries, remains a critical challenge. The purpose of this work is to assess the feasibility of achieving a net-zero energy building by combining energy-efficient design practices and renewable energy systems under the climatic conditions of the Republic of Congo. To achieve the stipulated objectives, DesignBuilder software was utilised for building modelling, energy load assessment and multiobjective optimisation of building energy efficiency measures, and the multicriteria energy optimisation was carried out using the HOMER tool. The optimisation results showed that the implementation of energy efficiency measures resulted in 39.15% energy savings, 43.45% thermal load savings and 55.68% discomfort hours reduction. Furthermore, the renewable energy system can provide 100% of the building’s energy load and a total savings of 3341.84 kgCO2eq/year. The system’s levelised cost of energy was estimated at 0.256 $/kWh, with a net present cost of $20,231, while the overall life cycle cost was calculated at 188.91 $/m2.

Analysis of measures to increase the energy efficiency of educational buildings of the national university of water and environmental engineering

The implementation of energy-efficient measures at the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE) was started since 2000. The buildings of NUWEE are located in different parts of Rivne city and Rivne region. Buildings № 1-7 were selected by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for financing their thermal modernization as part of the loan project "Higher Education of Ukraine. Energy efficiency and sustainable development" with the aim of increasing their energy efficiency. The authors analyzed the measures to increase the energy efficiency of the educational buildings of the NUWEE, namely, the installation of thermal insulation of facades, roofs, floors on the ground and first surfaces, replacement of windows and doors, installation of thermal insulation of pipelines, modernization of automated thermal energy regulation units (ATERU), heating system and lighting, implementation of the energy monitoring and dispatching system, installation of the ventilation system with exhaust air heat recovery. Implementation of the proposed measures will reduce energy consumption and related costs by 60 %, namely by 6,232 MWh/year (compared to the baseline level of energy consumption of 10,286 MWh/year). It will result increasing of the buildings’ comfort and functionality. After the implementation of the described measures, the increase of the energy efficiency class of educational buildings is predicted. The implementation of energy-efficient measures will also lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 50 %, namely by 1,648 t/year. Measures that can pay off as soon as possible are the implementation of thermal insulation of pipelines, modernization of ATERU and lighting, implementation of energy monitoring and dispatching systems. The longest payback period will require the installation of ventilation air heat recovery, but this measure is necessary in view of the current reduction in heat energy costs for heating the external supply air in the cold period of the year.

An Econometric Analysis of the Energy-Saving Performance of the Italian Plastic Manufacturing Sector

In a scenario characterised by mitigation concerns and calls for greater resilience in the energy sector, energy audits (EAs) emerge as an essential mean for enhancing end-use energy consumption awareness and efficiency. Such a tool allows us to assess the different energy carriers consumed in a productive sector, offering insight into existing energy efficiency improvement opportunities. This opens avenues for research to devise an econometrics-based methodology that encapsulate production sites and their environmental essentials. This paper contributes to the literature by exploiting the EAs received by the Italian National agency for New technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) in 2019 from the Italian plastics manufacturing sector, matched with Italian firm-based data extracted from the Analisi Informatizzata delle Aziende Italiane (Italian company information and business intelligence) (AIDA) database. In particular, we investigate how the implementation of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) is influenced by a set of contextual factors, as well as features relating to the companies and EEMs themselves. The empirical investigation focuses on the EAs submitted to ENEA in 2019, which was strategically chosen due to its unique data availability and adequacy for extensive analysis. The selection of 2019 is justified as it constitutes the second mandatory reporting period for energy audits, in contrast to the 2022 data, which are currently undergoing detailed refinement. In line with the literature, the adopted empirical approach involves the use of both the OLS and logistic regression models. Empirical results confirm the relevance of economic and financial factors in guiding the decisions surrounding the sector’s energy performance, alongside the analogous influence of the technical characteristics of the measures themselves and of the firms’ strategies. In particular, the OLS model with no fixed effects shows that a one-percent variation in investments is associated with an increase in savings performance equal to 0.63%. As for the OLS model, including fixed effects, the elasticity among the two variables concerned reaches 0.87%, while in the logistic regression, if the investment carried out by the production sites increases, the expected percentage change in the probability that the energy-saving performance is above its average is about 187.77%. Contextual factors that prove to be equally influential include the incentive mechanism considered and the traits of the geographical area in which the companies are located. Relevant policy implications derived from this analysis include the importance of reducing informational barriers about EEMs and increasing technical assistance, which can be crucial for identifying and implementing effective energy solutions.

Efficient space heating in a Portuguese Public Building Replacement of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas Boiler by Heat Pump

Buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of the total world annual energy consumption, putting them among the largest end-use sectors. Especially important has been the increase of energy consumption in HVAC systems, which has become essential in the demand for thermal comfort. The introduction and recent amendments to the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive demonstrate growing recognition among the policy community of the importance of energy efficiency in the building sector. The implementation of energy efficient measures, without compromising comfort level of building’s occupants, can significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings, the energy bills and the correspondent greenhouse gas emissions. In the building sector there are several energy conservation measures that can be implemented to reduce building energy consumption, namely four main areas: space heating, space cooling, domestic hot water and artificial lighting. This paper presents a simple case study used to compare an efficient electric heat pump with a conventional system for a public building space heating purposes. The study has been performed using two software tools: Cype and EnergyPlus.

ISO 50002 and ITS Contribution to the Decarbonization of SMES: Case Study

The decarbonization of all sectors of the energy system is essential to mitigate climate change. However, the existing barriers, mainly related to information, prevent the implementation of Energy Efficiency measures and energy management systems in SMEs to reduce carbon emissions. An energy audit is considered a critical step for businesses that want to increase their energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption cost-effectively. The present study addressed ISO 50002 and its contribution to energy management based on the ISO 50001:2019 standard through a case study applied to an SME in the non-metallic mineral sector, which allowed establishing the guidelines and the form to address an energy audit in an SME under ISO 50002, determining opportunities for improvement by eliminating unproductive times, correcting fleeting compressed air, eliminating energy losses due to operational variability, automating the start-up of the Hammer Mill and the feed band in gypsum grinding. Additionally, an annual energy and economic savings potential of 162,599 KWh and COP 49,360,442 was estimated; and 26,992 Kg CO2 stopped emitting.

Energetska tranzicija u domaćinstvima: analiza usaglašenosti Srbije sa paketom „Čista energija za sve Evropljane“

Due to its complexity and heterogeneity, the household sector represents an essential point in energy transition policies. In the European Union, household energy consumption accounts for about 26% of final energy consumption, while in Serbia, this sector has the largest share in final consumption, accounting for about one-third of final consumption. By implementing energy efficiency measures, significant energy savings can be achieved, which, together with the reduction and substitution of the use of fossil fuels, contribute to a lesser impact on climate change and significant reduction in air pollution. The package of legislative measures "Clean Energy for All Europeans" is a comprehensive set of laws defining European climate and energy policy after 2020. This package encompasses and links a series of topics related to the household sector. Through this package, member states are required to set high goals for energy efficiency and decarbonisation in the construction and revitalization of residential buildings, while simultaneously implementing measures concerning households affected by energy poverty. The Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, the Energy Efficiency Directive, the Renewable Energy Directive, the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, and the Regulation on the Establishment of a Framework for Achieving Climate Neutrality cover the main issues related to energy transition policy in households in the European Union. As a member of the Energy Community and a candidate for membership in the European Union, Serbia has committed to harmonizing its energy policy and legislation, accepting technical assistance and support in implementing reforms to adapt the national energy system to European standards. The aim of this paper is to present the regulatory and strategic framework "Clean Energy for All Europeans" in the part related to the household sector and to analyse its transposition into key legal provisions dealing with this topic in the Republic of Serbia

A Decomposition Analysis of Algeria’s Residential Energy Consumption Change: (2000–2020)

Between 2000 and 2020, the residential sector’s share of Algeria’s final energy consumption was 62.20% and 46.05% respectively; this was much higher than the global average of 31%. This enables us to comprehend the factors that contribute to the rise in energy consumption in the residential sector and to carry out a quantitative analysis to determine the extent to which energy efficiency reduces energy consumption in the sector between 2000 and 2020. To accomplish this, we employ the decomposition analysis approach by using the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI). The results of the study showed that the energy subsidy factor had a strong impact on increasing residential energy consumption in Algeria, compared to the population growth factor. In addition, the energy intensity factor and the economic structure factor did not help reduce energy consumption levels. According to these findings, Algerian public policymakers should strictly implement the national energy program Horizon 2030 by rationalising energy use, eliminating subsidies gradually, and monitoring the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the residential sector.

Energy efficiency investment in Swiss industry: Analysis of target agreements

Slowing down the energy efficiency (EE) improvement rate over the past half a decade and relatively low EE-related investments highlight a need for a more targeted approach to encourage EE improvement investment in the Swiss manufacturing sector. The current work is based on an analysis of already implemented energy efficiency measures (EEMs) via target agreements. Four segments of the Swiss manufacturing sector are identified using the K-means clustering based on the energy consumption profiles of the establishments. The EEMs are categorized through text analysis with the help of a machine learning algorithm. The EEMs are ranked using two indicators that can inform different stakeholders: i) EEMs with Internal rates of return well above the reported risk-adjusted hurdle rates are identified for each segment to help industrial decision-makers take ad-hoc, profit-based investment decisions on EE improvement. ii) Levelized costs of saved energy are presented as value ranges for the EEMs that have the largest impact on annual total final energy (TFE) reduction for each segment to help policymakers design a more targeted approach for the promotion of high-impact EEMs. EE system improvements such as insulation of steam systems and process optimization, as well as EE equipment improvements like process equipment insulation, installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs), smart controls, and IE3 motors, were found to be the most profitable options across all clusters. For the electricity cluster, CHP was found to be the most impactful way of EE improvement (high energy savings) but not cost-effective. For fuel-consuming clusters, waste heat recovery measures were found to be the most cost-effective and among the most impactful options for EE improvement, along with fuel substitution measures with varying degrees of cost-effectiveness.

Does recalling energy efficiency measures reduce subsequent climate-friendly behavior? An experimental study of moral licensing rebound effects

Energy efficiency measures are a key element in the fight against climate change. However, their effectiveness is threatened by so-called rebound effects—behavioral changes that lead to increased use and thus to lower-than-expected absolute savings. The moral licensing bias might cause rebound effects on the individual level: When people implement energy efficiency measures, they may feel that they have done something good for the climate and thus license themselves to less climate-friendly behavior later on. We test this prediction with three pre-registered experiments (total n = 2315). While our manipulated efficiency does increase the feeling of having done something good for the climate, no negative effects emerge on subsequent climate-friendly behavior—contrary to the predictions derived from the moral licensing literature. Climate-friendly behavior is thus not hampered by prior energy efficiency behavior; rather, demographics (women and older people act in a more climate-friendly manner) and environmental attitude determine it. Our results imply that the literature suggesting moral licensing is probably not transferable to the field of energy efficiency, and thus moral licensing may not lead to rebound effects in this context. We discuss possible explanations, implications for climate policy making, and needs for future research.

Solar neighborhoods: the impact of urban layout on a large-scale solar strategies application

The article addresses the challenges of evaluating energy performance in different neighborhood settings under various energy efficiency measures and proposes a methodology for selecting appropriate solar strategies on a neighborhood scale. The study selects five representative neighborhoods from various climatic zones with different building and street layouts. The proposed methodology involves a systematic three-step multi-domain workflow for implementing energy efficiency measures and solar strategies in the existing neighborhoods. The first step involves typical energy performance simulation, the second step involves energy simulation using high performance building envelope, and the third step involves the addition of solar strategies in combination with retrofitting materials to achieve net-zero status. The results of the study show that modifying the building envelope leads to a significant reduction in energy consumption, with up to 60% reduction observed. The study also finds that the optimal mix of solar strategies depends strongly on the type of neighborhood, its street layouts, and the type of buildings. The article highlights the importance of considering these factors when implementing solar strategies on a neighborhood scale to achieve energy efficiency and net-zero status. It provides urban planners with a systematic decision-making approach to evaluate and optimize neighborhoods to achieve net-zero energy status.

Towards healthy and energy-efficient buildings in the context of Egypt: Modelling demand-controlled ventilation to improve the indoor air quality in a generic office space in Cairo

Cairo is characterised by high concentrations of ambient air pollutants, especially air particulate matter of diameter less than 2.5 micrometre (PM2.5). Many studies have emphasized the impact of PM2.5 on people’s health and wellbeing including a World Bank report that has attributed 12% of the total annual deaths in Cairo to the exposure to ambient PM2.5. On one hand. improving the energy efficiency of buildings may involve implementing energy efficiency measures that aim to achieve indoor thermal comfort by maximizing the use of natural ventilation and minimizing mechanical air-conditioning. However, while natural ventilation can help reduce CO2 levels, it can also potentially lead to an increase in indoor PM2.5 levels. This study aims to investigate the impact of multiple air filtration scenarios on the energy consumption and the indoor air quality for a shoebox model that aims to represent generic offices Cairo. The study uses EnergyPlus simulations that leverage an Energy Management System script to model the demand-controlled ventilation, apply air filters when required, and simulate the increase in energy use due to the relevant pressure drops in the air system. The results for the scenarios investigated in the study highlighted that air filters can reduce the average indoor PM2.5 levels by nearly 40% during occupancy hours while causing an estimated increase of around 2-7% in the total operational energy. Given data and assumptions relevant to the study context, it was found that filtering the recirculated air while minimizing the introduction outdoor fresh air can be sufficient to minimize indoor PM2.5 levels.

Analysis and Implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures in Multi-Apartment Buildings in Latvia

Abstract A simplified life cycle of any product or service consists of three main stages – manufacturing, including obtaining, transformation, combination of raw materials; transportation, as well as packaging; consumption from purchase up to actual use. Energy is not an exception, it is also an item offered by the market in different forms, and everyone in need of it has the right to buy it in case the price is acceptable. Heat power is one of the energy types required by households and important for proper maintenance. Without heating, as well as electricity, modern houses cannot function appropriately, are not attractive to their inhabitants, do not provide comfort and safety. Nevertheless, heat power often is considered as a by-product of electricity production, nowadays a swift price increase for both types of energy is inevitable. Energy efficiency is the level of appropriate usage of energy resources, which can be determined as the relation between final product type, quality, quantity and consumption of energy necessary to create this product [1]. Indirectly energy efficiency impacts health of the society in general and each individual in particular. Renovated energy efficient apartment buildings have a better ventilation system and microclimate. The problem of moisture and mold is at least partly solved, comfort is reached by consuming less energy, especially, heat power [2]. The aim of the paper is to research the impact of different energy efficiency increasing measures on heat consumption in multi-apartment buildings.

Exploring energy efficiency barriers and drivers In the Portuguese water sector

While research, development, and implementation of energy efficiency measures in water and wastewater utilities are accelerating, there has been little research into the barriers and drivers to their adoption within the sector. This study presents the findings of a series of 11 semi-structured interviews conducted to Portuguese water and wastewater utilities. The results show the prioritization of quality-of-service subjects, such as reducing water losses and increasing the resilience of systems, over energy efficiency in this sector. Despite referring to financial barriers as important, the interviewees point out that the major barriers are the lack of human resources, lack of internal technical skills, and the bureaucratic public procurement processes. The main drivers highlighted in this study are the existence of awareness campaigns and dissemination of good practices, the existence of energy service companies, and the availability of funding, either public or specific financing programs with accessible rates. The results of this research can help define sector-oriented policies fostering the adoption of measures and strategies that help improve the energy performance and resilience of water and wastewater utilities worldwide.

Enhancing Energy Processes and Facilities Redesign in an Anaerobic Digestion Plant for Biomethane Production

The energy revolution prioritizes efficiency, sustainability, practicality, and concreteness. Conventional energy processes remain crucial and will continue to be essential for a long time if they are based on renewable and clean sources. Biofuels, particularly biomethane, are gaining significant attention for their potential to replace fossil fuels and contribute to a greener energy landscape. This paper focuses on enhancing the energy efficiency of an anaerobic digestion plant for biomethane production. Oversizing issues in technical plants often result in excessive energy and economic costs. Therefore, this study aims to analyze plant sections that can be improved to enhance performance. An energy analysis quantifies the energy requirements for different sections and sub-sections, guiding the selection of energy interventions such as pipeline resizing, heat generator modifications, pump enhancements, and energy recovery opportunities. The methodology is applied to an existing biomethane plant, and graphical software is used for redesigning the heat generator, pumps, and pipelines. The results demonstrated that implementing energy efficiency measures improves system performance. The heat generator’s capacity was successfully reduced by 100 kW, surpassing the initial design choice. Additionally, heat recovery from the biogas compression section has enhanced the overall thermal dynamics of the system. The estimated annual methane consumption in the boiler is approximately 12,000 Nm3, resulting in an expenditure of EUR 10600. These interventions have led to substantial savings, totaling EUR 133000 for the comprehensive thermal sustenance of the entire plant.

How policy instruments reproduce energy vulnerability - A qualitative study of Dutch household energy efficiency measures

Rising energy prices threaten households' access to affordable energy services and increase the risk of energy vulnerability. One way to reduce the cost of access to energy is to implement energy efficiency measures at the household level (e.g. solar panels). However, not all households have the capacity to do this. Households that are unable to implement energy efficiency measures are vulnerable in two ways: 1) they may not enjoy the benefits of these measures (such as lower energy costs, healthier and more comfortable living conditions), and 2) they may face increasing costs due to fluctuating market prices for non-renewable energy sources or taxes on non-renewable energy sources. Although public authorities use different policy instruments to support citizens in implementing energy efficiency measures, it turns out that these policy instruments can (re)produce energy vulnerability in an uneven way. However, how exactly this happens remains unclear. The aim of this paper is to use the capability approach to identify mechanisms that explain how policy instruments (re)produce energy vulnerability. By combining three qualitative methods to analyse two Dutch neighbourhoods, this article illustrates how institutional arrangements affect capabilities unequally, depending on spatial scale, language skills, socio-economic characteristics and housing situation. Finally, it presents three subsequent mechanisms through which policy instruments may negatively affect citizens' capabilities and increase the risk of energy vulnerability: 1) by precluding citizens from relevant information about the energy transition; 2) by raising the thresholds for citizens to implement energy-efficient measures; and 3) by miscalculating policy consequences, i.e. citizens' poor anticipation of long-term policy implications, aggravated by legal and financial uncertainty or changing individual circumstances.