Scalar Containment of Energy Justice and Its Democratic Discontents: Solar Power and Energy Poverty Alleviation

Abstract

The threats climate change poses require rapid and wide decarbonization efforts in the energy sector. Historically, large-scale energy operations, often instrumental for a scaled and effective approach to meet decarbonization goals, undergird energy-related injustices. Energy poverty is a multi-dimensional form of injustice, with relevance to low-carbon energy transitions. Defined as the condition of being unable to access an adequate level of household energy services, energy poverty persists despite the emergence of affordable renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaics (PV). Historical injustices and the modularity of solar PV combine to offer new possibilities in ownership, production and distribution of cost-competitive, clean and collectively scalable energy. Consequently, emerging policy priorities for positive energy districts call into question the traditional large-scale modality of energy operations. We report from a case study of solar power in Lisbon, a frontrunner in urban energy transitions while also home to high energy poverty incidence. The study focuses on scalar aspects of justice in energy transitions to investigate whether and how solar PV can alleviate urban energy poverty. It features 2 months of fieldwork centered on community and expert perspectives, including semi-structured interviews and field observations. We mobilize a spatial energy justice framework to identify justice aspects of multi-scalar solar PV uptake. By showing how energy justice is shaped in diverse ways at different scales, we demonstrate ways in which scale matters for just urban energy transitions. We argue that small- and medium-scaled approaches to electricity distribution, an integral component of positive energy districts, can address specific justice concerns. However, even as such approaches gain attention and legitimacy, they risk structurally excluding socio-economically vulnerable users, and proceed slowly relative to large-scale solar rollout.

Independence through leapfrogging: Energy transitions in Eswatini

“…Large, centrally controlled energy systems can be entangled in injustices, with distributed systems such as solar offering greater affordability compared to fossil fuels (Nordholm & Sareen, 2021). This is discussed further in Section 2.3.…”

“…The mechanism of affordability is critical to the discussion of energy poverty, as looking solely through the lens of energy infrastructure makes existing inequalities likely to persist (Nordholm & Sareen, 2021). This means that advancing the well‐being of energy‐poor populations requires more than access to energy services; it involves attending to the structural issues of justice that are entangled in energy systems (Samarakoon, 2020).…”

“…Eswatini is currently an importer of energy but seeks to generate its own and eventually export to the SADC (Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), 2022). However, given that transitioning to renewables goes beyond the physical infrastructure to include geopolitics and national development (Nordholm & Sareen, 2021), these possibilities are also constrained by the actions and competing goals of others.…”

Energy Poverty and Democratic Values: A European Perspective

“…Tadadjeu et al [31] examine how women's political participation in sub-Saharan Africa impacts energy poverty, suggesting that increased female political involvement can significantly improve energy poverty alleviation strategies through various effective channels. Nordholm and Sareen [37] delve into the concept of scalar containment in energy justice, exploring how solar power initiatives can alleviate energy poverty while also highlighting the democratic discontents that arise when energy justice is contained within certain administrative scales. This research points to the importance of scaling energy solutions to fit local contexts while maintaining broad democratic engagement.…”

Looking back to look forward: Reflections from networked research on energy poverty

“…The systematic reviews of locally oriented solutions shed further light on the difficulties of identifying larger-scale policies that bridge both contextual and systemic causes of energy poverty. Additionally, in-depth case studies such as Nordholm and Sareen 95 highlight opportunities to combine low-carbon energy transitions and energy poverty alleviation at multiple spatial scales within specific socio-technical and policy contexts, pointing to the democratic legitimacy of such endeavors.…”