The unfavourable economic reality in many countries has produced a relatively new term in world economics, namely energy poverty. To be energy poor basically means that a person, or group of people do not have enough electrical power to lead what in other countries is known as normal day to day life. In the UK for instance, when people are asked about the term ‘energy poverty’ they think of not being able to pay the power bill, but in reality energy poverty is quite different. So far, the term has been officially defined as lack of access to electricity (or other fuel) and clean cooking facilities in the domestic environment.
The importance of access to energy
People in some regions of the world take electrical power for granted, while others do not even have a single light bulb in their entire home. As per the International Energy Agency, nearly four and half million premature deaths are the result of energy poverty in one form or another, mostly due to use of crude fossil fuels for home heating during cold months of the year. No access to electricity also has profoundly negative social, economic and environmental consequences. Access to electricity makes a tremendous difference in a person’s quality of life. For instance use of electrical appliances instead of doing household chores manually. Ability to be productive during the dark hours of the day, and much more.
Energy Poverty Facts
- 2 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity;
- 3 billion people worldwide rely on biomass (firewood) for cooking;
- More than 95% of all energy poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia;
Possible solutions
There are different ways to overcome the problem of energy poverty in struggling regions of the world. Many of those countries are still far from being able to build and operate renewable or green energy schemes, but in such extreme cases even conventional means of generating electricity will be enough.
Another way is for developed countries to export electricity to struggling regions of the world. This however would be close to charity as people in developing regions cannot afford to pay for expensive electricity.
In many energy poor regions of the world, there is also a large scale problem with waste management. Accumulation of waste, along with presence of landfills is a serious environmental and economic issue. However with assistance from richer countries, waste to energy schemes might be established and treatment plants built. At least this would mean waste is put to good use. Having said that, an effective rubbish removal and disposal system will be needed if waste to energy schemes are to work.
The issue of supplying energy poor countries with the right amount of energy resource is a complex one and will take lots of thinking and development of infrastructure. It must be considered that the cost of bringing energy to such stricken communities is likely to be beyond the financial means of the region or country altogether, which makes funding such projects all the more complicated.