To what extent does renewable energy impact energy justice? A quantile regression analysis

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of renewable energy on energy justice and the moderating effect of institutional Tquality using a quantile regression (QR) approach. It also aims to analyze whether the impact of renewable energy on energy justice changes across various quantiles of energy justice. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a sample of 69 developing and developed countries covering the period from 2000 to 2022. The authors adopt a QR approach to examine the impact of our relationships. In addition, they use a quantile-on-quantile regression technique to give a complete and more detailed picture of the renewable energy–energy justice nexus. Findings The results illustrate the positive impact of renewable energy on energy justice. The authors show that this impact is greater in countries with a high quantile of energy justice, suggesting that countries with a high level of energy justice promote renewable energy to protect the environment while integrating a social dimension of the energy transition. In addition, the results suggest that institutional quality reinforces this relationship, meaning that institutional quality plays a key role in helping countries use renewable energy to achieve better energy justice. Originality/value This study extends existing research on renewable energy and energy justice. It gives a complete and more detailed picture of the relationship between renewable energy, institutional quality and energy justice using a non-monotonic methodology, which builds on the insights of the current literature.