Background
Energy poverty (EP) is a condition where a household is unable to access energy services in the home up to a socially and materially necessary level. It typically arises when people struggle to cover energy expenses and maintain livable temperatures in their homes. Despite a high standard of living in Norway, there are clear indications that EP is a problem. Since EP has not received significant academic attention in Norway, there is little knowledge about what it is, its scale, causes, and consequences.
About the project
The research project PowerPoor addresses an issue that is new in Norway, but urgently needs research-based solutions. PowerPoor relies on the inclusion of user partners representing relevant authorities and stakeholders at all levels, and a highly experienced and interdisciplinary research group.
With these resources, the project will define and develop methods for measuring EP tailored to Norway; analyse the causes of EP in Norway; map and examine experiences and responses from EP households; map and analyse policies and measures addressing EP, the political processes and their effects, and compare them with policy solutions abroad. Furthermore, PowerPoor will analyse the impact of EP in the energy transition.
The project will use a variety of statistical and qualitative approaches to gather data for analysis. Overall, this enables the interdisciplinary project team to produce new knowledge about the extent, characteristics, and consequences of EP in Norway that is highly relevant for policymakers, public administration, and interest organizations, while also contributing to the research frontier on energy poverty and energy justice.
Collaboration
The project originates from the research center Include. Project participants include researchers from the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), CICERO, the University of Oslo, and Durham University, in addition to Include's partners Viken County Council and the Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet). The project leader is Tor Håkon Jackson Inderberg at FNI.