Low-Carbon Transition and Energy Poverty in a Smart City – Satoshi Kurokawa

Low-Carbon Transition and Energy Poverty in a Smart City – Satoshi Kurokawa








Abstract



Japan’s government has prompted residents to install photovoltaics (PVs) on their rooftops and use the generated electricity. Households living in zero-energy houses, which have PVs and storage batteries, pay low electricity fees. Also, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are charged using electricity from rooftop PVs. In this sense, energy transitions in smart cities appear to reduce energy expenditures of households. However, households in poverty cannot afford PVs and BEVs. They will be left behind in the energy transition and will not enjoy its benefits unless the government formulates an appropriate policy to help households in poverty. Without such a policy, energy poverty would become an obstacle to the energy transition towards a low-carbon society. Zero-energy houses that are parts of smart grids can become stabilisers that absorb the output fluctuations of renewable energy electricity in the future.