A comprehensive study conducted by a diverse international team comprised of political scientists, data scientists, economists, and environmental scientists has shed new light on the extent of global energy poverty. Utilizing satellite data to analyze artificial nighttime light emissions, the researchers have estimated that approximately 1.18 billion people worldwide demonstrate no visible signs of electricity usage. This study, published in the journal Joule, involved examining satellite images of the Earth’s surface taken over 3,000 nights, specifically focusing on illuminated areas to map energy usage patterns.
8 years to publish our paper that there's 1.18 billion people energy poor, 60% more than expected, lost in the dark every night. Poverty happens *somewhere*, and being good at "What is where" matters.
8 years ago, at the The World Bank we used space images at night to actually… pic.twitter.com/SWdOpsdxh7
— Bruno Sánchez-Andrade Nuño (@brunosan) May 30, 2024
Previous studies have indicated the complexity of addressing energy poverty, particularly in remote and underdeveloped regions. Even when electricity is made accessible, many communities do not immediately benefit from it due to a lack of basic electrical appliances, such as light bulbs. This barrier prevents them from utilizing the newly available power. Prior research has estimated that over 700 million people are affected by such constraints, underscoring a significant global challenge.
Movement started from Peshawar against the worst load shedding of electricity
Protesters from Peshawar blocked the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway!!@TeamiPians
#قوم_مانگے_خان_کی_رہائی
pic.twitter.com/gspvFabRFn— Fawad Khanⁱᴾⁱᵃⁿ (@intofawadkhan5) May 28, 2024
The recent study targeted sub-Saharan Africa, analyzing satellite imagery from the years 2013 to 2020 to obtain a clearer picture of energy utilization. The research method involved nighttime observations of settlements, comparing the amount of light these areas emitted against that from nearby uninhabited lands. This comparison was conducted repeatedly across different nights to enhance the precision of the findings.
From this rigorous analysis, the researchers confirmed that an estimated 1.18 billion people globally live with minimal to no electricity, classifying them as energy-poor. This condition extends beyond the mere availability of electricity, encompassing issues like affordability and the absence of necessary electrical devices such as lamps and lightbulbs.
Over 1 billion people lack reliable electricity, says a new paper by ISR's Brian Min. "Lost in the Dark: A Survey of Energy Poverty from Space" used nighttime satellite imagery to study 115 countries, revealing 1.18 billion face energy poverty.
Read more: https://t.co/ym2XU6q15l pic.twitter.com/jlOpXN5Qpj
— U-M ISR (@umisr) May 30, 2024
The implications of these findings are profound, revealing a more widespread issue of energy poverty than previously recognized. The study highlights the multifaceted nature of energy poverty, which includes not only the infrastructure to deliver electricity but also the economic and material means to utilize it effectively. This broader understanding is crucial for developing targeted interventions that address not just the technical provision of power but also the broader socio-economic factors that inhibit its use.
Major Points
- An international team utilized satellite data to determine that approximately 1.18 billion people globally show no signs of electricity use, indicating widespread energy poverty.
- The study analyzed nighttime satellite imagery over 3,000 nights to map artificial light emissions and identify areas without visible electricity usage.
- Research focused on sub-Saharan Africa from 2013 to 2020, comparing light from settlements to nearby uninhabited areas to assess energy use.
- Findings reveal that energy poverty is not only due to lack of electricity access but also includes factors like affordability and lack of necessary appliances.
- The study, published in the journal Joule, indicates that the number of energy-poor individuals is far greater than previously estimated, highlighting the need for comprehensive solutions.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
