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Predicting energy poverty with combinations of remote-sensing and socioeconomic survey data in India: Evidence from machine learning

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  • Wang, Hanjie
  • Maruejols, Lucie
  • Yu, Xiaohua

Abstract

Identifying energy poverty and targeting interventions require up-to-date and comprehensive survey data, which are expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to conduct, especially in rural areas of developing countries. This paper examined the potential of satellite remote sensing data in energy poverty prediction combined with socioeconomic survey data in response to these challenges. We found that a machine learning algorithm incorporating geographical and environmental remotely collected indicators could identify 90.91% of the districts with high energy poverty and performs better than those using socioeconomic indicators only. Specifically, precipitation and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) offer the most significant contribution. Moreover, the algorithm, which was trained using a dataset from 2015, could also perform well to predict energy poverty using two environment indicators: precipitation and PM2.5 concentration.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Hanjie & Maruejols, Lucie & Yu, Xiaohua, 2021. "Predicting energy poverty with combinations of remote-sensing and socioeconomic survey data in India: Evidence from machine learning," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:102:y:2021:i:c:s0140988321003923
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105510
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Remote sensing data; Machine learning; Energy poverty prediction; Random forest; Precipitation; PM2.5 concentration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • Q47 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy Forecasting
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

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