Offshore renewable energies have been identified as important clean sources of energy in line with sustainable development goals. However, their use can generate conflicts with other maritime activities, as well as the protection of biodiversity and the marine environment. This article analyses the influence of regulatory frameworks and ocean governance in the implementation of such devices, from a legal–political point of view. In this sense, it studies how the law of the sea addresses potential international conflicts between ocean energy installations and other activities (e.g., navigation) developed by other states. It also studies the importance of preventive legal tools—marine spatial planning, strategic environmental assessment, and environmental impact assessment—to anticipate and reduce clashes with other sea users as well as environmental damages that may be caused by these structures. Likewise, this research analyses different national consent procedures and legal–economic supporting schemes, to identify those that boost the implementation of such projects more quickly. Finally, the relevance of enhancing the involvement of affected coastal communities and local stakeholders in the decision‐making processes, as well as in the socio‐economic benefits of offshore renewable energy projects to increase their social acceptance, is also emphasized.
{"title":"Socio‐economic, legal, and political context of offshore renewable energies","authors":"Santiago Salvador, M. C. Ribeiro","doi":"10.1002/wene.462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.462","url":null,"abstract":"Offshore renewable energies have been identified as important clean sources of energy in line with sustainable development goals. However, their use can generate conflicts with other maritime activities, as well as the protection of biodiversity and the marine environment. This article analyses the influence of regulatory frameworks and ocean governance in the implementation of such devices, from a legal–political point of view. In this sense, it studies how the law of the sea addresses potential international conflicts between ocean energy installations and other activities (e.g., navigation) developed by other states. It also studies the importance of preventive legal tools—marine spatial planning, strategic environmental assessment, and environmental impact assessment—to anticipate and reduce clashes with other sea users as well as environmental damages that may be caused by these structures. Likewise, this research analyses different national consent procedures and legal–economic supporting schemes, to identify those that boost the implementation of such projects more quickly. Finally, the relevance of enhancing the involvement of affected coastal communities and local stakeholders in the decision‐making processes, as well as in the socio‐economic benefits of offshore renewable energy projects to increase their social acceptance, is also emphasized.","PeriodicalId":48766,"journal":{"name":"Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Energy and Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2022-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41510311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The concept of technological learning is a method to anticipate the future development of the costs of technologies. It has been discussed since the 1930s as a tool for determining manufacturing cost reductions, starting in an airplane manufacturing plant, by means of learning curves and has been widely used since the 2000s in energy models to endogenize technological change. In this paper, the theoretical concept of technological learning based on energy technologies is analyzed based on examples from the literature. The main low‐carbon power generation technologies, photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, wind and nuclear energy were analyzed, showing different cost trends. Additionally, the impact of policy support on technological learning was discussed in concrete examples of bioethanol and heat pumps. We find that the homogeneity and the modularity of a technology are essential for high learning rates. A good proof is the manufacturing cost development of photovoltaics in recent decades, where a rather stable learning rate of 20% has been identified. On the contrary, nuclear power did not evolve into a homogeneous technology due to required environmental adaptations caused by accidents and the lack of standardization and application of new engineering approaches. In that case, the overall price further increased. Finally, another important condition is stable legal and regulatory conditions regarding the implementation.
{"title":"Technological learning: Lessons learned on energy technologies","authors":"Reinhard Haas, M. Sayer, A. Ajanovic, H. Auer","doi":"10.1002/wene.463","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.463","url":null,"abstract":"The concept of technological learning is a method to anticipate the future development of the costs of technologies. It has been discussed since the 1930s as a tool for determining manufacturing cost reductions, starting in an airplane manufacturing plant, by means of learning curves and has been widely used since the 2000s in energy models to endogenize technological change. In this paper, the theoretical concept of technological learning based on energy technologies is analyzed based on examples from the literature. The main low‐carbon power generation technologies, photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, wind and nuclear energy were analyzed, showing different cost trends. Additionally, the impact of policy support on technological learning was discussed in concrete examples of bioethanol and heat pumps. We find that the homogeneity and the modularity of a technology are essential for high learning rates. A good proof is the manufacturing cost development of photovoltaics in recent decades, where a rather stable learning rate of 20% has been identified. On the contrary, nuclear power did not evolve into a homogeneous technology due to required environmental adaptations caused by accidents and the lack of standardization and application of new engineering approaches. In that case, the overall price further increased. Finally, another important condition is stable legal and regulatory conditions regarding the implementation.","PeriodicalId":48766,"journal":{"name":"Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Energy and Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2022-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42517299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-01Epub Date: 2022-06-17DOI: 10.1002/wene.451
Amela Ajanovic
The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes worldwide in a dimension that has not been seen since the Second World War. This pandemic and the measures taken to moderate the negative consequences have affected almost all aspects of our life. Transport has been one of the most affected sectors. In general, the global car market is very sensitive to macroeconomic conditions. This applies especially to electric vehicles, which are still very dependent on financial support measures. A combination of travel restrictions, unemployment, and low oil prices could have significant impact on electric vehicles. This paper provides an overview of the development of electric vehicles and corresponding policies covering the period before and during the COVID crisis. Policy framework and the future development of the annual gross domestic product per capita have a significant impact on diffusion of battery electric vehicles. However, since the crisis is still ongoing, the full impact of the COVID crisis on mobility is still to be seen but the findings so far show rather favorable signs for electric mobility. This article is categorized under:Cities and Transportation > Electric Mobility.
{"title":"The impact of COVID-19 on the market prospects of electric passenger cars.","authors":"Amela Ajanovic","doi":"10.1002/wene.451","DOIUrl":"10.1002/wene.451","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes worldwide in a dimension that has not been seen since the Second World War. This pandemic and the measures taken to moderate the negative consequences have affected almost all aspects of our life. Transport has been one of the most affected sectors. In general, the global car market is very sensitive to macroeconomic conditions. This applies especially to electric vehicles, which are still very dependent on financial support measures. A combination of travel restrictions, unemployment, and low oil prices could have significant impact on electric vehicles. This paper provides an overview of the development of electric vehicles and corresponding policies covering the period before and during the COVID crisis. Policy framework and the future development of the annual gross domestic product per capita have a significant impact on diffusion of battery electric vehicles. However, since the crisis is still ongoing, the full impact of the COVID crisis on mobility is still to be seen but the findings so far show rather favorable signs for electric mobility. This article is categorized under:Cities and Transportation > Electric Mobility.</p>","PeriodicalId":48766,"journal":{"name":"Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Energy and Environment","volume":"11 5","pages":"e451"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/4f/99/WENE-11-0.PMC9349506.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40680254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Due to an ever‐increasing rise in proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs), the paradigm of passive electrical distribution networks is shifting toward active distribution systems. This new environment introduces a plethora of challenges that cannot be managed by traditional tools, whose utilization could compromise the reliability and efficient operation of distribution feeders. This article systematically reviews state of the art in different DERs management software solutions available today. Additionally, it establishes distinguished roles and responsibilities of different levels of hierarchy in distinct solutions that are all commonly called DERs management systems—DERMS (e.g., fully centralized versus fully decentralized DER management solutions). Lastly, it offers a viewpoint on the directions that hold potential for the power system community and industry to explore for further developments of more robust and intelligent DERMS, to successfully enable efficient transition into a new era of clean and sustainable power systems, encompassing active and dynamically changing distribution circuits.
{"title":"Distributed energy resource management systems—DERMS: State of the art and how to move forward","authors":"L. Strezoski","doi":"10.1002/wene.460","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.460","url":null,"abstract":"Due to an ever‐increasing rise in proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs), the paradigm of passive electrical distribution networks is shifting toward active distribution systems. This new environment introduces a plethora of challenges that cannot be managed by traditional tools, whose utilization could compromise the reliability and efficient operation of distribution feeders. This article systematically reviews state of the art in different DERs management software solutions available today. Additionally, it establishes distinguished roles and responsibilities of different levels of hierarchy in distinct solutions that are all commonly called DERs management systems—DERMS (e.g., fully centralized versus fully decentralized DER management solutions). Lastly, it offers a viewpoint on the directions that hold potential for the power system community and industry to explore for further developments of more robust and intelligent DERMS, to successfully enable efficient transition into a new era of clean and sustainable power systems, encompassing active and dynamically changing distribution circuits.","PeriodicalId":48766,"journal":{"name":"Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Energy and Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2022-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44666092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Kar, A. Sinha, Sidhartha Harichandan, Rohit Bansal, M. S. Balathanigaimani
India's rapid population growth and steady industrialization mean that energy demand will grow in industry, transport, electricity, and cooling. Due to greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, fossil fuels will be less preferred to meet energy demand and consumption. Significantly, the transport sector will move toward green fuel, including hydrogen. However, most hydrogen is now produced from fossil fuels through partial oxidation or steam reforming natural gas or coal gasification. This article examines the continuous progress of hydrogen regarding its production, storage, and commercialization in India. Given the versatility in nature, hydrogen shall play a crucial role in decarbonizing the Indian economy by 2050. India's hydrogen energy roadmap was envisioned for an operational hydrogen economy by 2020. The objectives of the hydrogen roadmap remained unfulfilled. We found that inadequate infrastructural developments, lack of proactive policies, insufficient investment in the hydrogen value chain, slow market readiness, and a shortage of public awareness have contributed to the hydrogen economy's derailment in India. The proposed National hydrogen energy mission aims to revive India's hydrogen economy. Stakeholders should focus on hydrogen research, development, value chain development, and hydrogen technology commercialization.
{"title":"Hydrogen economy in India: A status review","authors":"S. Kar, A. Sinha, Sidhartha Harichandan, Rohit Bansal, M. S. Balathanigaimani","doi":"10.1002/wene.459","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.459","url":null,"abstract":"India's rapid population growth and steady industrialization mean that energy demand will grow in industry, transport, electricity, and cooling. Due to greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, fossil fuels will be less preferred to meet energy demand and consumption. Significantly, the transport sector will move toward green fuel, including hydrogen. However, most hydrogen is now produced from fossil fuels through partial oxidation or steam reforming natural gas or coal gasification. This article examines the continuous progress of hydrogen regarding its production, storage, and commercialization in India. Given the versatility in nature, hydrogen shall play a crucial role in decarbonizing the Indian economy by 2050. India's hydrogen energy roadmap was envisioned for an operational hydrogen economy by 2020. The objectives of the hydrogen roadmap remained unfulfilled. We found that inadequate infrastructural developments, lack of proactive policies, insufficient investment in the hydrogen value chain, slow market readiness, and a shortage of public awareness have contributed to the hydrogen economy's derailment in India. The proposed National hydrogen energy mission aims to revive India's hydrogen economy. Stakeholders should focus on hydrogen research, development, value chain development, and hydrogen technology commercialization.","PeriodicalId":48766,"journal":{"name":"Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Energy and Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2022-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44572920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Veeresh Fuskele, P. Baredar, R. M. Sarviya, Shiv Lal, Shubham Awasthi
The thermal load in the wind turbine nacelle is increasing due to the higher dissipation of heat from the various components in the high unit capacity wind mill. With the motive to develop a sustainable and efficient windmill, research on low cost highly efficient wind turbine nacelle cooling systems has become particularly important. In this review, the prominent waste heat producing sources and the extensively used cooling systems are described. A detailed analysis of the advantages and limitations of each system and the use of various cooling fluids as cooling medium in wind turbine nacelle cooling systems is also discussed. Use of nanofluids as cooling medium in liquid cooling system is also highlighted as it produces a higher thermal performance enhancement. Hence, it is identified as a promising option for a cooling medium and future research.
{"title":"Wind turbine nacelle cooling systems: A review","authors":"Veeresh Fuskele, P. Baredar, R. M. Sarviya, Shiv Lal, Shubham Awasthi","doi":"10.1002/wene.456","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.456","url":null,"abstract":"The thermal load in the wind turbine nacelle is increasing due to the higher dissipation of heat from the various components in the high unit capacity wind mill. With the motive to develop a sustainable and efficient windmill, research on low cost highly efficient wind turbine nacelle cooling systems has become particularly important. In this review, the prominent waste heat producing sources and the extensively used cooling systems are described. A detailed analysis of the advantages and limitations of each system and the use of various cooling fluids as cooling medium in wind turbine nacelle cooling systems is also discussed. Use of nanofluids as cooling medium in liquid cooling system is also highlighted as it produces a higher thermal performance enhancement. Hence, it is identified as a promising option for a cooling medium and future research.","PeriodicalId":48766,"journal":{"name":"Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Energy and Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2022-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43394680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Kar, A. Sinha, Rohit Bansal, B. Shabani, Sidhartha Harichandan
The hydrogen economy is on the verge of expansion across the globe. Leading economies like Japan, South Korea, China, the United States of America, Germany, and Australia are steadily pushing for greater hydrogen integration into their energy systems. Australia's thrust on the hydrogen economy becomes prominent with clear strategic actions to enhance clean technology‐based hydrogen production. The paper critically analyses Australia's strategies and policies to expand its hydrogen economy. The paper found that Australia fixed ambitious targets to increase hydrogen penetration in the domestic market and export to Japan, China, and South Korea. Australia's national hydrogen strategy emphasized creating a strong hydrogen value chain to capitalize on abundant renewable resources. This article affirms that Australia has enormous potential for cost‐competitive green hydrogen production and export. Australia's cost‐competitive green hydrogen production with modern supply chain infrastructure will offer competitive advantages over the other exporters. States/regions are trying to align their hydrogen policies and strategies along the lines of the national strategy. However, some concerns demand timely attention from the stakeholders. Australia should address multiple challenges, including a lack of investment, lower public awareness, and insufficient infrastructure to push hydrogen adoption in the domestic market. Further, Australia must utilize its strengths to take advantage of the emerging hydrogen markets in Japan, China, and South Korea.
{"title":"Overview of hydrogen economy in Australia","authors":"S. Kar, A. Sinha, Rohit Bansal, B. Shabani, Sidhartha Harichandan","doi":"10.1002/wene.457","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.457","url":null,"abstract":"The hydrogen economy is on the verge of expansion across the globe. Leading economies like Japan, South Korea, China, the United States of America, Germany, and Australia are steadily pushing for greater hydrogen integration into their energy systems. Australia's thrust on the hydrogen economy becomes prominent with clear strategic actions to enhance clean technology‐based hydrogen production. The paper critically analyses Australia's strategies and policies to expand its hydrogen economy. The paper found that Australia fixed ambitious targets to increase hydrogen penetration in the domestic market and export to Japan, China, and South Korea. Australia's national hydrogen strategy emphasized creating a strong hydrogen value chain to capitalize on abundant renewable resources. This article affirms that Australia has enormous potential for cost‐competitive green hydrogen production and export. Australia's cost‐competitive green hydrogen production with modern supply chain infrastructure will offer competitive advantages over the other exporters. States/regions are trying to align their hydrogen policies and strategies along the lines of the national strategy. However, some concerns demand timely attention from the stakeholders. Australia should address multiple challenges, including a lack of investment, lower public awareness, and insufficient infrastructure to push hydrogen adoption in the domestic market. Further, Australia must utilize its strengths to take advantage of the emerging hydrogen markets in Japan, China, and South Korea.","PeriodicalId":48766,"journal":{"name":"Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Energy and Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2022-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48974196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Expansion of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) and natural gas‐fired generation capacity in the United States has put a renewed spotlight on methods and tools for power system planning and grid modernization. This article investigates the impact of increasing natural gas‐fired electricity generation assets on installed distributed solar PV systems in the Pennsylvania–New Jersey–Maryland (PJM) Interconnection in the United States over the period 2008–2018. We developed an empirical dynamic panel data model using the system‐generalized method of moments (system‐GMM) estimation approach. The model accounts for the impact of past and current technical, market and policy changes over time, forecasting errors, and business cycles by controlling for PJM jurisdictions‐level effects and year fixed effects. Using an instrumental variable to control for endogeneity, we concluded that natural gas does not crowd out renewables like solar PV in the PJM capacity market; however, we also found considerable heterogeneity. Such heterogeneity was displayed in the relationship between solar PV systems and electricity prices. More interestingly, we found no evidence suggesting any relationship between distributed solar PV development and nuclear, coal, hydro, or electricity consumption. In addition, considering policy effects of state renewable portfolio standards, net energy metering, differences in the PJM market structure, and other demand and cost‐related factors proved important in assessing their impacts on solar PV generation capacity, including energy storage as a non‐wire alternative policy technique.
{"title":"Estimating the impacts of natural gas power generation growth on solar electricity development: PJM's evolving resource mix and ramping capability","authors":"Joseph Nyangon, J. Byrne","doi":"10.1002/wene.454","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.454","url":null,"abstract":"Expansion of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) and natural gas‐fired generation capacity in the United States has put a renewed spotlight on methods and tools for power system planning and grid modernization. This article investigates the impact of increasing natural gas‐fired electricity generation assets on installed distributed solar PV systems in the Pennsylvania–New Jersey–Maryland (PJM) Interconnection in the United States over the period 2008–2018. We developed an empirical dynamic panel data model using the system‐generalized method of moments (system‐GMM) estimation approach. The model accounts for the impact of past and current technical, market and policy changes over time, forecasting errors, and business cycles by controlling for PJM jurisdictions‐level effects and year fixed effects. Using an instrumental variable to control for endogeneity, we concluded that natural gas does not crowd out renewables like solar PV in the PJM capacity market; however, we also found considerable heterogeneity. Such heterogeneity was displayed in the relationship between solar PV systems and electricity prices. More interestingly, we found no evidence suggesting any relationship between distributed solar PV development and nuclear, coal, hydro, or electricity consumption. In addition, considering policy effects of state renewable portfolio standards, net energy metering, differences in the PJM market structure, and other demand and cost‐related factors proved important in assessing their impacts on solar PV generation capacity, including energy storage as a non‐wire alternative policy technique.","PeriodicalId":48766,"journal":{"name":"Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Energy and Environment","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2022-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41502078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Energy poverty is a fast rising government agenda in the Global North, and is subject to a substantial academic literature. Energy poverty is experienced when people do not have adequate access to energy services (light, heat, warmth, and cooling) to live a decent life. Plans to transition to a low‐carbon economy in the Global North have raised concerns about the impacts of environmental policy on more vulnerable citizens. A just transition is highly risky for energy poor households, who enter into the transition at a disadvantage. Understanding this starting point is critical in ensuring the energy poor are able to participate in a just transition, and are not subject to further disadvantage. Here, using a realist evaluation approach, I summarize the empirical literature on the experience of energy poverty in the Global North, in doing so characterizing who tends to be vulnerable to this problem, and painting a picture of their life experience. I show how energy poverty links to poverty, and how people from commonly disadvantaged social categories (disabled people, single parents, and people from ethnic minorities) are more likely to experience energy poverty. I describe the homes of people experiencing energy poverty, and their coping practices, as well as outlining the effects of energy poverty on health, social life, and home finances. In conclusion, I point to the weaknesses and gaps in the current literature, and suggest some important avenues of research for the future. This includes bringing energy poverty evidence into more extensive conversation with a just transitions agenda.
{"title":"Who is vulnerable to energy poverty in the Global North, and what is their experience?","authors":"L. Middlemiss","doi":"10.1002/wene.455","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.455","url":null,"abstract":"Energy poverty is a fast rising government agenda in the Global North, and is subject to a substantial academic literature. Energy poverty is experienced when people do not have adequate access to energy services (light, heat, warmth, and cooling) to live a decent life. Plans to transition to a low‐carbon economy in the Global North have raised concerns about the impacts of environmental policy on more vulnerable citizens. A just transition is highly risky for energy poor households, who enter into the transition at a disadvantage. Understanding this starting point is critical in ensuring the energy poor are able to participate in a just transition, and are not subject to further disadvantage. Here, using a realist evaluation approach, I summarize the empirical literature on the experience of energy poverty in the Global North, in doing so characterizing who tends to be vulnerable to this problem, and painting a picture of their life experience. I show how energy poverty links to poverty, and how people from commonly disadvantaged social categories (disabled people, single parents, and people from ethnic minorities) are more likely to experience energy poverty. I describe the homes of people experiencing energy poverty, and their coping practices, as well as outlining the effects of energy poverty on health, social life, and home finances. In conclusion, I point to the weaknesses and gaps in the current literature, and suggest some important avenues of research for the future. This includes bringing energy poverty evidence into more extensive conversation with a just transitions agenda.","PeriodicalId":48766,"journal":{"name":"Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Energy and Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45977264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}