A conceptual framework for residential energy security in the context of clean energy transitions

Wejnert-Depue, Camille; Zhang, Ying; Casper, Kelly; O'Neill, Brian C.; Waldhoff, Stephanie T.

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2025.104096

A conceptual framework for residential energy security in the context of clean energy transitions

Journal Article · Fri May 30 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Energy Research and Social Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104096· OSTI ID:2572586

Wejnert-Depue, Camille ^[1]; Zhang, Ying ^[2]; Casper, Kelly ^[2]; O'Neill, Brian C. ^[2]; Waldhoff, Stephanie T. ^[2]

Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Joint Global Change Research Institute

Energy security is a crucial aspect of human well-being. As climate change impacts become more evident, countries are constructing equitable, resilient, and sustainable clean energy transition policies to reduce emissions while ensuring energy security. Climate policies globally highlight the importance of national energy security. Furthermore, adequate and affordable access to household energy is also critical to the continued prioritization of climate mitigation. However, past energy security discussions within the broader climate research and policymaking community primarily focused on national-level energy supply as a critical metric of energy security. Less research has explored the potential implications of energy transitions for residential energy security, often focusing on a single dimension of residential energy security. Thus, we conduct a review of journal articles and governmental plans to develop a conceptual framework of residential energy security and facilitate communication among researchers and policymakers. The framework is designed around four foundational pillars, five metrics measuring residential energy security, and seven drivers influencing the metrics. Additionally, we provide policy examples to show how this framework can be applied to inform decision-making. Thus, this paper makes important contributions to the literature by (a) creating a framework to better understand the concept of energy security at the household level for future research and policy-relevant communications, (b) identifying gaps in the current literature, and (c) highlighting instances where aspects of residential energy security are discussed in policies and governmental plans, which help serve as guiding examples for future applications of our framework in the policymaking processes.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2572586

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--198582

Journal Information:: Energy Research and Social Science, Journal Name: Energy Research and Social Science Vol. 126; ISSN 2214-6296

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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A conceptual framework for residential energy security in the context of clean energy transitions

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