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Paola Velasco Herrejon
(University of Oslo)
Niall Dunphy
(University College Cork)
Breffní Lennon
(University College Cork)
Format:
Panel
Streams:
Energy transitions
Sessions:
Thursday 7 July, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Understanding the lived experiences of energy poverty in the Global North and South.
Panel P12b at conference DSA2022: Just sustainable futures in an urbanising and mobile world.
The panel aims to extend our understanding of the lived experiences of energy poverty in the Global North and South by exploring the methods used to identify energy-poor households, characterising those most at risk, and discussing practices for supporting energy-vulnerable households across regions
Long Abstract:
Energy poverty is a condition predicated on a combination of high energy prices, low household incomes, poorly performing or energy inefficient buildings and appliances, and other specific household energy needs. While income level is an important factor, not all those who suffer from monetary poverty are energy poor and indeed not all those in energy poverty are necessarily income poor. Energy poor households are faced with the choice of using an above-average portion of their income on heat, light, cooling, cooking and appliance use; or going without these essentials, resulting in a cold and uncomfortable home and reduced living standards. The consequences include significant deteriorations in people’s physical health and mental well-being, along with premature death related to severe winter and summer conditions, as well as more restricted lifestyles and social exclusion.
The efforts to reduce energy poverty have continued globally both in developing and developed countries during the past decades. While a great deal of effort is expended on analysing energy poverty at the macro-, or the meso-, level there remains a gap in our collective understanding of how best to identify and engage with energy-poor households at the local level. This is true across both developing and developed contexts. Identifying those suffering from energy poverty can be a major obstacle to the efficient implementation of energy poverty policies. However, the variable causes of energy poverty in different contexts mean that the adequate identification of energy-poor households remains a critical challenge.
This panel aims to provoke a conversation that extends our understanding of the lived experiences of energy poverty at the household level, across developed and developing contexts. This includes exploring the range of methods to identify energy-poor households, measure energy poverty and characterise those most at risk or vulnerable to energy poverty, including instances of so-called “hidden energy poverty”. Finally, the session will also aim to discuss the most appropriate practices for supporting energy-poor households across regions.
The session will follow the panel format proposed by this year’s conference: contributors will be asked to submit videos/audio recordings or a written version in advance and will be encouraged to start with a two-minute pitch to highlight their main contribution and ask a provocative question for participants to reflect on and discuss during the session.
Analysis based on the lived experience of fuel poverty allows us to reconsider the phenomenon in relation to the mobilised capacities of the individuals concerned. This study is built upon the elaboration of a detailed typology of resources and skills for coping with fuel poverty.
Paper long abstract:
Fuel poverty is not just a policy category that allows the deployment of energy access policies. Fuel poverty is first and foremost the lived experience of millions of people who are unable to access energy services adequate to their needs. In this context, a lived experiences reading of fuel poverty allows us to go beyond the concepts of fuel poverty in terms of deficiencies by also highlighting the resources and skills available to the most precarious to cope with it. Indeed, several solutions to tackle fuel poverty are deployed in everyday life. A detailed analysis of the resources that can be mobilised allows us to go beyond a reading with the social, economic and material trio. Indeed, more than a dozen areas of resources are identified and make it possible to integrate all the resources of the everyday life: emotional resources, computer or relational skills, technical knowledge, etc.
The aim is to understand the different practices of individuals in dealing with fuel poverty, starting from the discourses and practices of the individuals concerned. Capacities are thus at the heart of the understanding of fuel poverty: energy is not an end in itself, but a necessary support for the mobilisation of capabilities.
A qualitative field survey has been thus conducted in two French cities, Nantes and La Courneuve, between 2015 and 2019. More specifically, the approach chosen consisted of participant observation, interviews and content analysis to support our findings.
We analyze the economic sustainability of mini-grids in Kenya. We aim to present an evidence-based analysis of mini-grids in Kenya that will contribute to the development of policy frameworks focused on governing mini-grids and help us achieve access to sustainable energy by all.
Paper long abstract:
Energy poverty is lack of access to sustainable modern energy. Access to adequate, affordable, reliable, safe, and environmentally sound energy is unequally distributed across the globe therefore limiting economic development. By virtue of its versatility, electricity is critical to the country's socioeconomic development. Globally, 13% of the total population do not have access to electricity. In sub-Saharan Africa, 57% of the population live without electricity. In Kenya, only 75% of the total population has been electrified.
To improve access to electricity in Kenya, development of off-grid/mini-grids systems have been embraced. However, questions around their economic sustainability and consequently their ability to bridge the gap remains a puzzle. Studies evaluating the economic sustainability of mini-grids across different geographical contexts in Kenya are scarce. Little or no attention is given to consumers' ability to sustain the cost of these electricity systems.
Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the economic sustainability of mini-grids in Kenya. We collect data using semi-structured interviews with households in 15 mini-grids in Kenya. We analyse energy use, willingness to connect and pay for electricity, payment platforms and their ease of access and use, affordability and reliability. Preliminary findings indicate that presence of electricity from off-grid/mini-grids does not guarantee optimum consumption. This has led to energy stacking or seeking alternative options to balance access to energy and cost of electricity despite their limitations. We aim to contribute to development of policy frameworks focused on governing mini-grids and ensure access to sustainable energy by all.
We studied energy poverty (EP) in Mexico with a novel multidimensional approach. We implemented a household survey in two major cities. The results reveal that there is EP in the affordability subdimension and a significant degree of susceptibility in other subdimensions. We provide policy insights.
Paper long abstract:
Energy poverty (EP) is a significant challenge for achieving climate commitments and sustainable development with social justice. It can affect households across the world, regardless of the development level of their respective countries. Most research has focused on countries at the extreme of the development spectrum, while middle-income countries have been less studied as in the case of Mexico. The current approach to measuring EP in the country relies on the access perspective, which cannot capture the diversity of most urban households. In this paper, we studied EP in Mexico. To do so, we developed a novel multidimensional approach, which assembles advances in EP research, ecosystem resilience modeling, and primary data collection. This approach leads to a composite index that describes EP regarding three dimensions and 10 subdimensions. Based on the proposed approach, we designed and implemented a study in two major cities. This study consisted of an in-person household survey, which collected data from 480 households. The results reveal that these households experience EP in the affordability subdimension as they pay a large share of their income in energy and face expensive energy supply services (though with relatively good quality). Moreover, the results show a significant degree of susceptibility regarding the consumption and perception dimensions that, despite not leading to EP, could have a negative impact for achieving sustainable development. Finally, the study provides insights into the peculiarities of the EP phenomenon in urban populations in middle-income countries and could help design public policy against this problem.
I would like to discuss the role of the narratives of social entrepreneurs in the energy poverty network and how they can support network cohesion through their hybrid organisations.
Paper long abstract:
The roadmap to a just energy transition faces the challenge of the inclusion of vulnerable households. Energy poverty is a complex social problem that affects more than 37 million people in Europe, a number that will grow, increasing vulnerability and deepening inequality. The complex and networked nature of energy poverty is inviting to responses from a growing diversity of perspectives and actors, among whom social entrepreneurs are increasingly notable contributors. The phenomenon of social entrepreneurship and social innovation may be a productive space to build responses to energy vulnerability since the hybrid nature of social enterprises confer them suitable and distinctive capabilities to contribute to this multi-actor problem. Thus, the aim of this work is to enrich the understanding of the mechanisms at play in the energy poverty network through the phenomenon of collective social entrepreneurship. For that purpose, we interview social entrepreneurs addressing energy poverty issues in 8 European countries to examine their narratives on their role in the energy poverty network and understand the plurality and diversity involved. The theoretical lens of the multi-actor network frames our approach to the complex energy poverty problem in relation to the role of social entrepreneurship. Our findings suggest the synergistic activity of all actors contributing to a more holistic approach to energy poverty to accelerate the just energy transition.
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Niall Dunphy (University College Cork)
Breffní Lennon (University College Cork)
Short Abstract:
The panel aims to extend our understanding of the lived experiences of energy poverty in the Global North and South by exploring the methods used to identify energy-poor households, characterising those most at risk, and discussing practices for supporting energy-vulnerable households across regions
Long Abstract:
Energy poverty is a condition predicated on a combination of high energy prices, low household incomes, poorly performing or energy inefficient buildings and appliances, and other specific household energy needs. While income level is an important factor, not all those who suffer from monetary poverty are energy poor and indeed not all those in energy poverty are necessarily income poor. Energy poor households are faced with the choice of using an above-average portion of their income on heat, light, cooling, cooking and appliance use; or going without these essentials, resulting in a cold and uncomfortable home and reduced living standards. The consequences include significant deteriorations in people’s physical health and mental well-being, along with premature death related to severe winter and summer conditions, as well as more restricted lifestyles and social exclusion.
The efforts to reduce energy poverty have continued globally both in developing and developed countries during the past decades. While a great deal of effort is expended on analysing energy poverty at the macro-, or the meso-, level there remains a gap in our collective understanding of how best to identify and engage with energy-poor households at the local level. This is true across both developing and developed contexts. Identifying those suffering from energy poverty can be a major obstacle to the efficient implementation of energy poverty policies. However, the variable causes of energy poverty in different contexts mean that the adequate identification of energy-poor households remains a critical challenge.
This panel aims to provoke a conversation that extends our understanding of the lived experiences of energy poverty at the household level, across developed and developing contexts. This includes exploring the range of methods to identify energy-poor households, measure energy poverty and characterise those most at risk or vulnerable to energy poverty, including instances of so-called “hidden energy poverty”. Finally, the session will also aim to discuss the most appropriate practices for supporting energy-poor households across regions.
The session will follow the panel format proposed by this year’s conference: contributors will be asked to submit videos/audio recordings or a written version in advance and will be encouraged to start with a two-minute pitch to highlight their main contribution and ask a provocative question for participants to reflect on and discuss during the session.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Thursday 7 July, 2022, -Coralie Robert (Université Paris Nanterre)
Abigael Okoko Beryl Onjala Elsie Onsongo Mourice Wambua Kausya (International Centre for Frugal Innovation) Rosebella Nyumba (International Centre for Frugal Innovation)
Zeus Guevara (Tecnologico de Monterrey) Maria de la O Laura del Carmen Cuevas Cancino Esteva (Tecnologico de Monterrey) fabian carranza (ITESM) Oliver López-Corona Elvia Ramirez Mauro Juárez (Anahuac Mexico)
Maria-Jose Manjon (Universidad Pontificia Comillas) Amparo Merino (Comillas Pontifical University) Iain Cairns (University of Strathclyde)