Addressing energy inequities in clean energy transitions

The transition to clean energy is hailed as a crucial step toward environmental and health benefits, but could it inadvertently widen the gap between the wealthy and the disadvantaged? This critical question is addressed by the research group led by Shen Guofeng, Assistant Professor at the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University.

Their study, recently published in Nature Communications, delves into the disparities in household energy burdens during the global shift to modern clean energy. The paper, titled “Unclean but affordable solid fuels effectively sustained household energy equity,” offers practical solutions to balance equity and sustainability in energy transitions.

While modern energy sources such as electricity and natural gas promise cleaner living conditions, they may unintentionally increase the financial strain on low-income households, exacerbating existing inequalities. Rural communities still relying on affordable solid fuels like coal and biomass face a disproportionate burden when transitioning to more expensive clean energy alternatives.

To tackle this challenge, Dr. Shen’s team, including Jiang Ke, a doctoral student at the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, employed a nationwide household survey and advanced data analytics to examine the nuances of energy consumption, energy expenditure, energy burden, and equity across different income groups.

Using a combination of household survey data, statistical yearbooks, and advanced tools like geographic statistical models and random forest algorithms, the researchers constructed a comprehensive county-level micro and macro dataset.

This analysis revealed clear insights: While solid fuels account for 42.6% of household energy needs, they represent only 9.3% of total energy costs. However, as households transition to clean fuels, the disparities in energy burden increase significantly, with the concentration index (CI) rising by 43%.

The study found that promoting natural gas for cooking and electric heating can help minimize the growing energy burden gap, reducing the CI increase to just 15.5%. The researchers recommend policy solutions such as phased clean energy transitions, targeted energy subsidies, and the promotion of high-efficiency stoves to ensure that the transition remains affordable and equitable for all.