This European vision of a fair socially acceptable clean energy transition by 2050 brings the complex and multidimensional issue of energy poverty into the spotlight. Despite recent scientific and policy efforts focusing on mapping and comprehending energy poverty’s driving forces, aspects and consequences, gaps in knowledge and practice remain. Such gaps are identified especially in the case of rural areas, even though rural populations are at a significantly higher risk of facing energy poverty and social exclusion than urban ones.
In this context, the new report by the RENOVERTY project indicates the rigorous need for policy transformations and improvements to address energy efficiency and energy poverty issues in rural areas. This work includes findings and recommendations which, if considered, could support stakeholders and end-users to recognise the particularities of rural areas when it comes to the implementation of EEMs and support policymakers in the effective design and implementation of energy efficiency policies to address energy poverty in rural contexts.
The analysis couples the strengths of energy system modelling with qualitative and semi-quantitative techniques, implementing four methodological steps :
- The updated framework of energy efficiency and energy poverty in rural areas,
- the stakeholders need assessment,
- the RENOVERTY fieldwork (i.e., energy audits), as derived from the report: “Updating the energy poverty and energy efficiency framework in rural areas across the EU”,
- the application of the modelling assessment framework in real-life pilots, allowing for the evaluation of several Energy Efficiency Measures based on their impact in households’ energy profiles and technoeconomic viability.
To do so, the partners employ and present the results from the Dynamic high-Resolution dE-mand-sidE Management (DREEM) model to apply a portfolio assessment framework that determines the most suitable Energy Efficiency Measures in each case study, based on their energy-saving potential and their technoeconomic viability.
The report concludes giving ideas for future research, that should focus on conducting more detailed analyses of energy efficiency interventions in rural areas with increased resources and data acquisition. The varying results identified across the different EU countries highlight the need for targeted attention and research to more regions with specific characteristics, such as mountainous areas, islands, touristic regions, and just transition areas, to ensure a green and fair energy transition for all. Additionally, this approach should be expanded beyond the residential sector to include micro-enterprises and other sectors with unique characteristics that are currently understudied. This comprehensive strategy will help ensure that EEMs are effectively implemented across all relevant sectors, addressing the specific needs of the most vulnerable members of diverse communities.
