Alleviation of energy poverty through transitions to low-carbon energy infrastructure

With Green Deals and a competitive techno-economic basis for low-carbon energy transitions, energy infra -structural change is intensifying. This is matched by rapid growth in scholarship on sociotechnical transitions and energy justice, combined in the phrase 'just transitions'. Yet how can an abstract concern with a normative concept like justice be brought to bear on the socio-technical complexities of specific changes in energy infra-structure? This is an important and timely question to consider in a practical sense, since the energy policy landscape is increasingly focused on a 'just transition' as combining decarbonisation and a progressive vision of social equity and justice. Our synthesis review argues that a focus on the alleviation of energy poverty - a condition whereby people are unable to secure adequate levels of energy services in the home - can enable policy-oriented mobilisation of energy justice as an integral component of evolving energy infrastructure. We approach energy poverty as an opportunity to constructively broach issues of justice in global energy policy discourse, not as a catch-all for wider injustices and vulnerabilities. We present a conceptual framework, applied to three schematic cases of energy infrastructure under transition. In and across these cross-sectoral cases, we reflect on scope for energy poverty alleviation.

Automated summary

With the appearance of Green Deals and competitive techno-economic basis, the change in energy infrastructure is becoming more intense. However, it is important to consider how justice can be applied to the complex socio-technical changes in energy infrastructure. Our synthesis review argues that focusing on alleviating energy poverty can enable the policy-oriented mobilization of energy justice.