Between national trends and local realities: Spatializing energy vulnerability in 16 EU countries

Capturing energy poverty and its social and spatial inequalities is crucial for understanding the specific needs and effects of place-based energy policies. However, detailed EU cross-country comparisons are still scarce and do not account for the socio-spatial underpinnings of vulnerability to energy poverty. In this article, we construct a small-scale multidimensional energy vulnerability index based on 22 indicators spanning 16 countries from the European Union. Unlike previous EU-wide energy poverty indices, the proposed index captures the multifaceted nature of energy vulnerability using subindices on energy literacy, behavior, material conditions, and climate. We use PCA to combine theoretical and data-driven approaches for index creation. Additionally, we employ a geographically weighted approach that highlights the limitations of national trends compared with local realities. Case studies of Spain, the Netherlands, and Czechia help us map context-specific understandings of energy vulnerability. The vulnerability index presented in this paper constitutes a first attempt at measuring the small-scale socio-spatial nature of energy vulnerability in the EU. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering factors such as energy literacy, behavior, housing conditions, and health disparities in understanding energy injustice. We provide insights into the shifted energy landscapes following a series of political and economic disruptions in Europe. • Energy vulnerability is a complex, multi-dimensional issue influenced by literacy, behavior, material conditions, and affordability, exceeding traditional poverty measures. • Socio-spatial factors drive energy vulnerability, and social and geographical contexts significantly influence energy-related risks and the experience of injustice. • Spatial justice requires spatial analysis to address the unique vulnerabilities of different populations and acknowledge misrecognition of disadvantaged groups. • Energy vulnerability manifests in different ways in different spatial contexts, necessitating place-based research and policy interventions.