The impact of different COVID-19 containment measures on electricity consumption in Europe. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bahmanyar, Alireza; Estebsari, Abouzar; Ernst, Damien
• Is Part Of: Energy research & social science. Volume 68(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: COVID_19 -- Coronavirus -- European power systems -- Consumer behaviour; Power resources -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2020.101683
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-6296

Abstract

Abstract: As of March 13, 2020, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) considered Europe as the centre of the global COVID-19 outbreak. All countries within Europe had a confirmed case of COVID-19 by March 17. In response to the pandemic, different European countries took different approaches. This paper compares the impact of different containment measures taken by European countries in response to COVID-19 on their electricity consumption profiles. The comparisons are made for Spain, Italy, Belgium and the UK as countries with severe restrictions, and for the Netherlands and Sweden as countries with less restrictive measures. The results show that the consumption profiles reflect the difference in peoples' activities in different countries using various measures.