Contextualising a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty for South Africa’s just energy transition: a systematic literature review
Energy poverty is a multifaceted and urgent issue in the Global South, especially in South Africa, where, despite an electrification rate exceeding 90%, a substantial 40% of the population still experiences energy poverty. This paper presents a systematic review of literature on energy poverty in So...
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| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research: Energy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/adb491 |
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| author | Thandeka Tshabalala Megan Davies Nthabiseng Mohlakoana |
| author_facet | Thandeka Tshabalala Megan Davies Nthabiseng Mohlakoana |
| author_sort | Thandeka Tshabalala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Energy poverty is a multifaceted and urgent issue in the Global South, especially in South Africa, where, despite an electrification rate exceeding 90%, a substantial 40% of the population still experiences energy poverty. This paper presents a systematic review of literature on energy poverty in South Africa, covering the period from 1994 to 2023. The review identifies eleven key themes that offer a multi-dimensional perspective on such energy poverty. It offers insights into addressing critical issues for advancing an equitable and just energy system. Understanding the extent and nature of energy poverty could facilitate a deeper understanding of (in)justices entrenched in South Africa’s socio-technical energy system, for policymakers, practitioners and experts alike. Energy justice is employed as an analytical framework to examine the implications of energy poverty through the lenses of restorative, distributive, procedural, and recognitional justice. The analysis seeks to contribute to South Africa’s just transition (JT) Framework, which currently addresses energy poverty primarily as a matter of restorative justice. South Africa’s just energy transition cannot be achieved in an inclusive and transformative manner without accounting for multifaceted dynamics at the household level; here, energy poverty serves to bring about a more intersectional focus on the justice dimensions inherent in energy transitions. The findings underscore the need to address energy poverty at the household level, where it intersects with broader socio-technical dynamics. Such a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty in South Africa could help to inform targeted policies and initiatives to meet the specific needs of energy-poor households, while broader socio-technical changes are accelerated as part of the energy transition, thus more strongly meeting the goals spelled out in the JT Framework. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf342d1f8f9f4b0496036ad4b630fa22 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2753-3751 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research: Energy |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf342d1f8f9f4b0496036ad4b630fa222025-08-20T02:14:39ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Energy2753-37512025-01-012101501010.1088/2753-3751/adb491Contextualising a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty for South Africa’s just energy transition: a systematic literature reviewThandeka Tshabalala0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7315-1301Megan Davies1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5911-5801Nthabiseng Mohlakoana2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0644-4716Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST), Stellenbosch University , Stellenbosch, South AfricaCentre for Sustainability Transitions (CST), Stellenbosch University , Stellenbosch, South AfricaFaculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM), Delft University of Technology , Delft, The NetherlandsEnergy poverty is a multifaceted and urgent issue in the Global South, especially in South Africa, where, despite an electrification rate exceeding 90%, a substantial 40% of the population still experiences energy poverty. This paper presents a systematic review of literature on energy poverty in South Africa, covering the period from 1994 to 2023. The review identifies eleven key themes that offer a multi-dimensional perspective on such energy poverty. It offers insights into addressing critical issues for advancing an equitable and just energy system. Understanding the extent and nature of energy poverty could facilitate a deeper understanding of (in)justices entrenched in South Africa’s socio-technical energy system, for policymakers, practitioners and experts alike. Energy justice is employed as an analytical framework to examine the implications of energy poverty through the lenses of restorative, distributive, procedural, and recognitional justice. The analysis seeks to contribute to South Africa’s just transition (JT) Framework, which currently addresses energy poverty primarily as a matter of restorative justice. South Africa’s just energy transition cannot be achieved in an inclusive and transformative manner without accounting for multifaceted dynamics at the household level; here, energy poverty serves to bring about a more intersectional focus on the justice dimensions inherent in energy transitions. The findings underscore the need to address energy poverty at the household level, where it intersects with broader socio-technical dynamics. Such a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty in South Africa could help to inform targeted policies and initiatives to meet the specific needs of energy-poor households, while broader socio-technical changes are accelerated as part of the energy transition, thus more strongly meeting the goals spelled out in the JT Framework.https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/adb491energy povertyjust energy transitionenergy justiceenergy transitionsGlobal SouthSouth Africa |
| spellingShingle | Thandeka Tshabalala Megan Davies Nthabiseng Mohlakoana Contextualising a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty for South Africa’s just energy transition: a systematic literature review Environmental Research: Energy energy poverty just energy transition energy justice energy transitions Global South South Africa |
| title | Contextualising a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty for South Africa’s just energy transition: a systematic literature review |
| title_full | Contextualising a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty for South Africa’s just energy transition: a systematic literature review |
| title_fullStr | Contextualising a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty for South Africa’s just energy transition: a systematic literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contextualising a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty for South Africa’s just energy transition: a systematic literature review |
| title_short | Contextualising a multi-dimensional perspective on energy poverty for South Africa’s just energy transition: a systematic literature review |
| title_sort | contextualising a multi dimensional perspective on energy poverty for south africa s just energy transition a systematic literature review |
| topic | energy poverty just energy transition energy justice energy transitions Global South South Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/adb491 |
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