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Examining energy inequality under the rapid residential energy transition in China through household surveys

Author

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  • Qiang Wang

    (Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process (Ministry of Education), College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University)

  • Jie Fan

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Mei-Po Kwan

    (The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Utrecht University)

  • Kan Zhou

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Guofeng Shen

    (Peking University)

  • Na Li

    (Jimei University)

  • Bowei Wu

    (Key Laboratory of Humid Subtropical Eco-geographical Process (Ministry of Education), College of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University)

  • Jian Lin

    (University of California)

Abstract

Since 2013, China has initiated a rapid energy transition that replaces traditional solid fuels with modern clean energy. Despite the tremendous success of the energy transition, its impacts on household energy costs and associated energy inequality remain largely unexplored. Here we use data from a large nationwide household survey to investigate these trends. We find that about two-fifths (43.0%) of surveyed households switched from traditional solid fuels to clean energy during 2013–2017. However, 56.1% to ~61.0% of them were from extremely poor or poor households, causing deep concern for increasing household energy burden. Accordingly, the share of surveyed households in energy poverty increased from 30.1% to 34.2%. Despite the declining inequality in energy cost, a growing inequality in energy burden was revealed during 2013–2017. Our results demonstrate that the energy burden on rural households increased due to the dramatic rise in the cost of clean energy, while urban households tend to spend a lower and decreased proportion of their income on energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiang Wang & Jie Fan & Mei-Po Kwan & Kan Zhou & Guofeng Shen & Na Li & Bowei Wu & Jian Lin, 2023. "Examining energy inequality under the rapid residential energy transition in China through household surveys," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(3), pages 251-263, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:8:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1038_s41560-023-01193-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-023-01193-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Kashour, Mohammad, 2023. "A step towards a just transition in the EU: Conclusions of a regression-based energy inequality decomposition," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    2. Wang, Manyu & Wei, Chu, 2024. "Toward sustainable heating: Assessment of the carbon mitigation potential from residential heating in northern rural China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    3. Lee, Chi-Chuan & Song, Hepeng & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2023. "Assessing the effect of green finance on energy inequality in China via household-level analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    4. Li, Hui & Mu, Wenyu & Chen, Tianqi & Wu, Jingwen, 2024. "A social network perspective on household cooking fuel transition: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    5. Zhang, Shuai & Yang, Dewei & Ji, Yijia & Meng, Haishan & Zhou, Tian & Zhang, Junmei & Yang, Hang, 2024. "Spatio-temporal patterns and cascading risks of embodied energy flows in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    6. Sun, Shuyu & Tong, Kangkang, 2024. "Rural-urban inequality in energy use sufficiency and efficiency during a rapid urbanization period," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).
    7. Shao, Qinglong & Kostka, Genia, 2023. "The COVID-19 pandemic and deepening digital inequalities in China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(10).
    8. Ying Pan & Ke Shi & Zhongxu Zhao & Yao Li & Junxi Wu, 2024. "The effects of China’s poverty eradication program on sustainability and inequality," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.

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