Energy technology efficiency influence on energy poverty and energy justice in West African households

Abstract

This paper presents a new indicator which measure energy poverty (as energy justice component) called Modified Energy Poverty Index (MOEPI). It is a composite index and developed based on United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) methodology. MOEPI defines energy poverty as three dimensions conjunction: excessive energy inconvenience, energy deficit and equipment energy (in)efficiency. It captures energy deficit effect on education and include energy acquisition cost in energy inconvenience assessment. MOEPI is implemented on a sample of 640 households in Benin. Results showed 65.15% energy poor households surveyed. Energy poor are divided into three sub-groups, slightly energy poor (6%), moderate energy poor (53%) and severe energy poor (41%). Energy deficit and equipment energy inefficiency are the main dimensions responsible for household energy poverty. An improvement in equipment energy efficiency resulted in a 32.02% decrease in the number of energy poor households.