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Energy Poverty, Inequality and Sustainable Development
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Energy Poverty, Inequality and Sustainable Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 September 2024 | Viewed by 6732

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Oihana Aristondo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Applied Mathematics Department, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country, 20600 Eibar, Spain
Interests: poverty; inequality and welfare

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to announce a new Special Issue, “Energy Poverty, Inequality and Sustainable Development”, of the journal Sustainability.

On 25 September 2015, world leaders adopted a set of global goals to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years. Some of the Sustainable Development Goals focus on ending energy poverty, fighting inequality and injustice, and tackling climate change. More specifically, energy poverty is directly related with the first SDG (SDG-1),whose objective is No Poverty. Inequality in general can be linked to SDG-5 and SDG-10, which are Gender Equality and Reduced Inequalities, respectively. Finally, sustainable development is practically related to the 17 SDG, since some of them are necessary for sustainable development, for example, SDG-11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDF-12 Responsible Consumption and Production; and others can be seen as a consequence of a sustainable development, for example, SDG-3 Good Health and Well-being and SDG-4 Quality Education.

Therefore, the global goals are important, world-changing goals that will require cooperation between governments, international organizations and world leaders. To achieve these goals, everyone has to do their part: governments, the private sector, civil society and evidently the researchers.

The journal Sustainability is launching a Special Issue devoted to energy poverty, inequality and sustainable development. Our aim is for this Special Issue to contribute to new theoretical and empirical developments. This Special Issue is also devoted to offer practical solutions to emerging problems related with energy poverty, inequality and sustainable development in the post-COVID world. It would also be interesting to know what role policymakers should play in making sustainable development more effective, as well as their relations with the scientific world. Specific theoretical and methodological studies would lead to more effective policies for both poverty and inequality reduction and more sustainable development.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Energy poverty;
  • Inequality;
  • Sustainable development.

Dr. Oihana Aristondo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energy
  • poverty
  • inequality
  • sustainable development

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2123 KiB  
Article
The Quest for Resilient Sustainable Development and Low-Carbon Energy Transitions: Investigating the Challenges and Success Factors for Mini-Grids in Malawi
by Vincent Mwale, Richard Blanchard, Tiyamike Ngonda, Richard Nkhoma, Chukwudi Ogunna and Long Seng To
Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 5060; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125060 - 14 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1062
Abstract
Renewable energy mini-grids are considered a cost-effective way to provide electricity for a large proportion of the population in developing countries who do not have access to it. Compared with standalone home systems and national grid systems, mini-grids can potentially offer a better [...] Read more.
Renewable energy mini-grids are considered a cost-effective way to provide electricity for a large proportion of the population in developing countries who do not have access to it. Compared with standalone home systems and national grid systems, mini-grids can potentially offer a better service. They can be deployed faster, making them essential for sustainable development, especially in rural and semi-urban areas of developing countries. However, mini-grids often face challenges regarding their resilience, and many fail to survive beyond their pilot phases. This paper aims to identify the factors contributing to the success of mini-grids and to identify common themes that can help existing and future mini-grid developments become more resilient and influence policy decision making. To achieve this goal, we developed a database of the status of mini-grids in Malawi, with the energy generation resource(s) of their installed capacity, enabling factors, and challenges. We undertook a more detailed investigation of two hydro mini-grid systems—Bondo and Chipopoma. We collected qualitative and quantitative data through literature reviews, site visits, interviews, and observations. The study identified 19 mini-grids with a combined installed capacity of 26 MW. Of these, seven had been abandoned, and one was under development. Several factors that affect successful mini-grid efficacy in Malawi were identified, including financial resourcefulness, technical resourcefulness, policies and regulations, community engagement and capacity building, cross-sector linkages, and institutional organisational frameworks. These factors need to be integrated into decision making by all stakeholders to ensure the enhancement of resilience and the sustainable development of mini-grids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Poverty, Inequality and Sustainable Development)
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24 pages, 2544 KiB  
Article
Exploring Energy Poverty among Off-Grid Households in the Upper Blinkwater Community, South Africa
by Mahali Elizabeth Lesala, Ngwarai Shambira, Golden Makaka and Patrick Mukumba
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4627; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114627 - 29 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 830
Abstract
This paper explores energy poverty and its distribution among households in the Upper Blinkwater community, a typical remote South African community. Its selection was based on being the first identified to benefit from the pilot project implementing a decentralized hybrid mini-grid. We utilize [...] Read more.
This paper explores energy poverty and its distribution among households in the Upper Blinkwater community, a typical remote South African community. Its selection was based on being the first identified to benefit from the pilot project implementing a decentralized hybrid mini-grid. We utilize the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke technique, which identifies households below the energy poverty line, measures the depth, and identifies those most vulnerable to energy poverty. A total of 53 households were interviewed by means of a questionnaire. The findings indicate a reliance on diverse energy sources such as wood for heating and LPG for cooking, which has enhanced community resilience and control over energy consumption, with greater proportions not affected by energy poverty. However, about 38% still experience energy poverty. The findings show that energy poverty is unevenly distributed within the community. Older individuals tend to have greater energy security, likely due to the stability provided by social grants. In contrast, female-headed households and lower-income families face the most significant challenges. The study concludes that there are substantial gender disparities and that lower-income households are particularly vulnerable to energy poverty. Therefore, we recommend gender-sensitive interventions to reduce the financial burdens on these vulnerable households, thereby improving their energy security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Poverty, Inequality and Sustainable Development)
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36 pages, 5899 KiB  
Article
Matchmaking in Off-Grid Energy System Planning: A Novel Approach for Integrating Residential Electricity Demands and Productive Use of Electricity
by Nikolas Schöne, Tim Ronan Britton, Edouard Delatte, Nicolas Saincy and Boris Heinz
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3442; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083442 - 19 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1157
Abstract
Off-grid electrification planning increasingly recognizes the importance of productive use of electricity (PUE) to promote community value creation and (financial) project sustainability. To ensure a sustainable and efficient integration in the community and energy system, PUE assets must be carefully evaluated to match [...] Read more.
Off-grid electrification planning increasingly recognizes the importance of productive use of electricity (PUE) to promote community value creation and (financial) project sustainability. To ensure a sustainable and efficient integration in the community and energy system, PUE assets must be carefully evaluated to match both the community needs and the residential electricity demand patterns. We propose a novel methodology interlinking qualitative interviews, statistical analysis and energy system modeling to optimize decision making for PUE integration in off-grid energy systems in rural Madagascar by aligning relevant PUE effectively with anticipated residential electricity demand patterns based on socio-economic determinants of the community. We find that a possible contribution of the PUE to reducing the electricity costs depends significantly on three factors: (1) The residential electricity consumption patterns, which are influenced by the socio-economic composition of the community; (2) The degree of flexibility of (i) PUE assets and (ii) operational preferences of the PUE user; and (3) The capacity of community members to finance and operate PUE assets. Our study demonstrates that significant cost reductions for PUE-integrated off-grid energy systems can be achieved by applying our proposed methodology. When matching PUE and residential consumption patterns, the integration of PUE assets in residential community energy systems can reduce the financial risk for operators, provided the PUE enterprise operates reliably and sustainably. We highlight that the consideration of local value chains and co-creation approaches are essential to ensure the energy system is addressing the community’s needs, creates value for the community, enhances the project’s financial sustainability and is achieving the overall objectives of decentralized energy system planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Poverty, Inequality and Sustainable Development)
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21 pages, 879 KiB  
Article
Proposing a Novel Minimum Income Standard Approach to Energy Poverty Assessment: A European Case Study
by Roberto Barrella, José Carlos Romero and Lucía Mariño
Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15526; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315526 - 22 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1761
Abstract
Energy deprivation can be identified as a manifestation of general poverty. Indeed, the former should be studied in connection with economic poverty since energy vulnerability is closely linked to a low-income level. To explore this connection, this paper proposes a novel Minimum Income [...] Read more.
Energy deprivation can be identified as a manifestation of general poverty. Indeed, the former should be studied in connection with economic poverty since energy vulnerability is closely linked to a low-income level. To explore this connection, this paper proposes a novel Minimum Income Standard (MIS) approach to energy poverty indicators. In particular, this work applies the reference budgets method to the case of Spain and compares the obtained MIS indicator with one calculated using the Integration Minimum Income (RMI in Spanish) as a threshold. The results of the MIS indicator calculated with different income thresholds were critically analysed to establish a disproportionate expenditure metric based on an absolute income threshold obtained with an objective methodology. The outcomes show that the reference budget MIS indicators are generally higher than those obtained with the RMI, with the latter unable to identify energy poverty amongst certain household typologies. This result, together with the lack of scientific objectivity associated with the RMI, indicates that the reference budget MIS is more accurate when measuring an adequate minimum income. Eventually, this work might contribute to the measurement of (energy) poverty in Spain and the EU and inform policymakers to adequately target assistance programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Poverty, Inequality and Sustainable Development)
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23 pages, 5124 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Role of Renewable Energies in Combating Poverty in Brazil: A Systematic Review
by Eugenia Cornils Monteiro da Silva, Marcos Antonio Tavares Lira, Marcelo Carneiro Gonçalves, Osvaldo Augusto Vasconcelos de Oliveira Lopes da Silva, Wesly Jean and Raimundo Batista dos Santos Júnior
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5584; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135584 - 29 Jun 2024
Viewed by 814
Abstract
Poverty reduction is a complex global challenge where renewable energy emerges as a promising solution, particularly in resource-rich countries like Brazil. Renewable energy can enhance conditions in vulnerable communities without exacerbating climate change. This paper reviews the scientific literature on the role of [...] Read more.
Poverty reduction is a complex global challenge where renewable energy emerges as a promising solution, particularly in resource-rich countries like Brazil. Renewable energy can enhance conditions in vulnerable communities without exacerbating climate change. This paper reviews the scientific literature on the role of renewable energy in alleviating energy poverty, focusing on Brazil and its global partnerships. Using the Web of Science database with the keywords poverty, renewable energy, and Brazil, this study analyzes 38 articles. The inclusion criteria were broad, focusing on the relationship between poverty in Brazil and renewable energy use. Keywords such as specific types of renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind) were excluded to avoid omitting important renewable sources. This review encompasses theoretical models, discourse analyses, case studies, and systematic reviews, addressing topics from rural electrification to socio-economic factors influencing sustainable energy adoption. Despite growing interest and international collaboration, research gaps remain, highlighting the need for increased academic engagement. The objective of this study is to address the existing gap in the literature concerning the impact of renewable energies on energy poverty in Brazil. Through a comprehensive review, this work maps current knowledge, identifies gaps, and highlights trends by integrating socio-economic analyses with technical assessments for a holistic perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Poverty, Inequality and Sustainable Development)
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