Understanding Energy Poverty in Norway (PowerPoor)

Energifattigdom (EF) er en tilstand hvor en husholdning ikke er i stand til å få tilgang til energitjenester i hjemmet opp til et sosialt og materielt nødvendig nivå. Det oppstår vanligvis når folk sliter med å dekke energiutgiftene og opprettholde levelige temperaturer i hjemmene sine. Til tross for høy levestandard i Norge er det klare indikasjoner på at energifattigdom er et problem. Ettersom EF ikke har fått nevneverdig akademisk oppmerksomhet i Norge er det lite kunnskap om hva det er, hvor utbredt det er, hva som forårsaker det, og hva konsekvensene av energifattigdom er. PowerPoor tar opp en problemstilling som er ny i Norge, men som har sårt behov for forskningsbaserte løsninger. PowerPoor hviler på inkludering av brukerpartnere som representerer relevante myndigheter og interessenter på alle nivåer, og en svært erfaren og tverrfaglig forskningsgruppe. I denne delen av prosjektet har fokuset vært på datainnhenting og interne møter for å involvere brukerpartnere.

PowerPoor will be a first research project of size to systematically investigate energy poverty (EP) in the Norwegian context. The project also links EP to the energy transition. PowerPoor addresses an issue that recently entered the Norwegian agenda, but which is in dire need of sound research for evidence-based knowledge and solutions. PowerPoor rests on the inclusion of key user partners representing relevant authorities and stakeholders at all levels, and a highly experienced and interdisciplinary research group. With these assets the project will, assisted by a combination of EP literature perspectives and energy justice theory: define and develop metrics for measuring EP adapted to Norway, as well as analysing causes for EP in Norway (WP1); map and analyse the experiences and responses of EP households (WP2); map and analyse policy responses and measures addressing EP, the policy processes and effects of these, and compare these to policy solutions from UK and elsewhere (WP3); analyse the impact of EP and perceptions of a fair and just transition, on barriers to the energy transition (WP4). Finally, we will synthesise our results (WP5). The project will rest on an integrated mixed-method of qualitative interviews and document analysis, in combination of world-class quantitative data at the household level and surveys. In sum this enables the interdisciplinary research to generate knowledge that is highly relevant for the user partners and public administration and beyond, justice and the EP themselves, as well as contributing to the research frontier on energy transition barriers and EP. The combination of sound academic research, involvement of strategic user partners, and an interdisciplinary project will ensure significant impact. Ambitiously, PowerPoor aims to use the ongoing Include Research Centre and the analyses to become a research hub for EP in Norway and beyond, and to inform and define public administration work on EP in the years to come.