New Insights into Energy Poverty

A Perspective from the Social Sciences
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-15236-1
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 154 Seiten, Format (B × H): 138 mm x 216 mm

Reihe: Routledge Focus on Energy Studies

This book explores energy poverty through a social science lens, drawing on the author's research experience at the Universities of Trieste and Milan and his work as an energy poverty project manager for the City of Milan.

Energy poverty is no longer a localized issue related to warmth and energy affordability. It has turned into a global concern shaped by multifaceted economic, environmental, socio-demographic, spatial, and geographical factors. This groundbreaking book provides an updated perspective from the social sciences, exploring how evolving forms of energy deprivation challenge traditional understandings of the phenomenon and demand new analytical frameworks that consider the full complexities of energy vulnerabilities. It considers the drivers of energy vulnerability globally and explores how decision-makers can be equipped to craft targeted local actions for vulnerable households amid urban energy transition agendas. These insights integrate lived experiences into measurements and form the basis for policy recommendations designed to foster energy justice and security for vulnerable households.

Bridging academic theory and empirical research, this volume equips the reader to address one of today’s most pressing global challenges. It is a deal for researchers, policymakers, and social scientists with a focus on energy transitions, energy policy, and energy inequality.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate and Undergraduate Advanced

Fachgebiete

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftssektoren & Branchen Energie- & Versorgungswirtschaft
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Regierungspolitik Wirtschafts- und Finanzpolitik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction

2. Is Energy Poverty Research Going Global?

Squaring the Circle between Different Forms of the Phenomenon

3. Measuring Energy Vulnerability: How to Involve Lived Experience in The Analysis

4. How can Municipalities tackle Energy Poverty? Self-Reflections from Energy Poverty Project Management

5. The Energy Vulnerability-Energy Community Nexus: Strong or Weak Tie?

6. Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

Lorenzo De Vidovich is a sociologist with a PhD in urban planning and works as a researcher at Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico – RSE S.p.A. His research focuses on the territorial dimensions of welfare policies, with particular attention to energy transition, energy poverty, energy communities, and inequalities in suburban and peripheral contexts. Before joining RSE, he held research and teaching positions at the University of Trieste and the University of Milan. He served as project manager for the applied research project Community Energy Map (2021) and for collaborations with institutions such as C40 Cities and the Municipality of Milan (2023-2024).