Optimizing equity in energy policy interventions: A quantitative decision-support framework for energy justice. (1st November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heleno, Miguel; Sigrin, Benjamin; Popovich, Natalie; Heeter, Jenny; Jain Figueroa, Anjuli; Reiner, Michael; Reames, Tony
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 325(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-01
• Subjects: Energy justice -- Equity -- Energy burden -- DER deployment -- Weatherization; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119771
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents a quantitative framework to support policy decision-making around equitable energy interventions. By combining sociodemographic and techno-economic models in the energy space, we propose a linear programming model to calculate the optimal portfolio of energy investments that explicitly minimizes the energy burden of a given population of energy insecure households. The model is formulated as a multi-objective optimization suitable to support the decisions on weatherization and deployment of distributed energy resources. We illustrate our methodology with a case study involving a population of 14, 043 energy insecure households in Wayne County, Detroit, United States. Highlights: Presents a quantitative decision-making framework for energy justice. Provides optimal energy interventions to decrease energy insecurity. Combines technoeconomic energy planning with tract-level sociodemographic data. Explores trade-offs between intervention costs and energy burden reduction.