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Decarbonizing the energy supply one pandemic at a time.
M A Russo1, L Ruivo2, D Carvalho3
1CESAM and Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
Energy Policy
|October 17, 2022
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a 15.7% drop in Portugal's primary energy consumption by shifting work to home offices. This suggests that reduced mobility and remote work are viable energy efficiency strategies for decarbonization.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Energy Policy
- Socioeconomics
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered global energy consumption patterns due to widespread lockdowns and remote work.
- Portugal experienced a substantial shift in resource consumption towards the domestic sector.
- The pandemic's impact on daily life provides a unique dataset for evaluating energy strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze energy consumption vectors in Portugal during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To investigate the potential of home office practices as an energy efficiency measure for achieving EU 2050 decarbonization goals.
- To assess the impact of altered mobility and workforce decentralization on energy demand.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of primary energy consumption data (electricity, natural gas, transport fuels) from 2019 and 2020 in Portugal.
- Evaluation of shifts in energy demand attributed to confinement protocols and increased remote work.
- Statistical assessment of the correlation between reduced mobility and energy savings.
Main Results:
- Primary energy consumption in Portugal decreased by 15.7% in 2020 compared to 2019.
- A notable shift in energy usage from commercial/industrial sectors to the domestic sector was observed.
- The data indicate a positive correlation between increased home office practices and reduced overall energy demand.
Conclusions:
- Remote work and workforce decentralization emerged as significant energy efficiency measures.
- The pandemic-induced changes offer valuable insights into potential pathways for achieving EU 2050 energy and climate targets.
- Policies promoting reduced mobility and remote work could be instrumental in future decarbonization efforts.
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