Synergetics as a Systems Theoretical and Methodological Lens in Structuring Energy Poverty

Abstract

Energy poverty, as part of the energy trilemma, remains a global challenge in the 21st century. More than 1.7 billion people remain without access to modern energy sources while more than 3 billion people rely only on fossil fuel resulting in negative health and environmental impacts. While admittedly modern biomass fueled energy systems benefit from newer technologies their use is still blamed for detrimental effects on social, economic and environmental aspects of human existence. No wonder then that in many parts of the world distributed renewable energy systems show promise in addressing some of the more important issues of energy access challenges, particularly energy poverty and fuel poverty; this is specifically evident in the global south through improved efficiency, effectiveness, access and quality of energy services. Nevertheless, understanding the complexities and subsequent structuring of energy poverty becomes a complex systems issue since energy technology plays a dual role in enhancing and inhibiting energy access. This paper, borrowing from systems thinking theory, applies a synergetic elements framework where the authors attempt to enhance the comprehension and structure of the wicked problem of energy poverty; this is done by developing a conceptual model. The paper continues by showing the critical role played by interactions between socio-technical system elements, notably those between soft and hard systems. This includes energy poverty depicted in multiple and complex synergetic subsystems, micro and macro elements, exogenous and internal barriers, control parameters and the environment.