Understanding essential energy through functionings: A comparative study across six energy poverty trials in Europe

Universal access to essential energy is a derived human right, however the term “essential energy” is not well defined and can be subject to interpretation. Diverse understandings of the concept can lead to uncertainties in the identification of energy poor households and misguided interventions. Building on literature on energy poverty, capabilities and health promotion, this article proposes that essential energy should be understood in terms energy functionings, which are the realisations of capabilities. To clarify the essential energy concept in terms of functionings, this study aimed to reveal how essential energy was perceived and shaped across diverse contexts of six energy poverty trials. The study took place in Jelgava (Latvia), Obuda (Hungary), Edirne (Turkiye), Valencia (Spain), Leeds (England) and Heerlen (The Netherlands) and involved focus groups and urban tours with 29 energy poverty experts in 2023. Conceptions of essential energy converged on a set of non-compensatory and context-independent contemporary functionings: spatial warmth, coolness, hygiene, good indoor air quality, clean laundry, cooked food, food safety and security, electronic entertainment and others. The fair and equitable distribution of these essential energy outcomes for low carbon living and health depended on the constellation of energy features such as energy carriers, services and appliances. We also extracted a list of conditions that shaped these energy features, influenced capabilities and impacted outcomes, while promoting the achievement of energy functionings and staying within the limits of sufficiency. Energy poverty assessments using this functionings framework should also consider a dwelling's structural integrity and secure supply of energy. • Argues for a conceptualisation of ‘essential energy’ in terms of functionings • Explores expert conceptions of essential energy across European energy poverty trials • Proposes a catalogue of non-compensatory, contemporary energy functionings • Offers a list of conditions that promise the achievement of energy functionings • Re-frames energy poverty as non-achievement of energy outcomes