An impact study of COVID-19 on the electricity sector: A comprehensive literature review and Ibero-American survey

Abstract

To stop the spread of COVID-19, governments have implemented confinement measures unprecedented in modern society. One of the main consequences has been the paralysis of commercial and industrial sectors worldwide, primary electricity consumers. This paper examines the impact of these measures on the electricity sector through a literature review accompanied by fieldwork on the impact of COVID-19 in Ibero-America and its energy regulatory response. First, we will review the causes of the reduction in electricity demand due to the confinement measures and their technical and financial consequences in the electricity sector. Second, we will examine the impact of COVID-19 on the wind and solar PV energy sectors, mainly affected by the paralysis of production and export of materials and components. Third, we will revise the regulatory measures implemented by the countries to avoid the interruption of electricity supply to households. This paper will end by reviewing economic recovery plans and their relationship to the energy transition. Although there are no fundamental differences between developed and developing countries in their regulatory reaction to this crisis in the energy sector, there are significant differences in economic recovery planning. While developed countries aim for a green economic recovery and the creation of green jobs, developing countries are allocating least resources to social protection and general economic stimulus programs, postponing climate objectives. In Latin America, this adds to the high levels of debt faced by utilities and the possible resurgence of social crises that were stopped by the COVID-19 outbreak, making a green recovery even more difficult.

Analysis of Air and Soil Quality around Thermal Power Plants and Coal Mines of Singrauli Region, India

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2020), the lockdown was imposed in many countries resulting in reduced air pollution levels [ 24 ]. Essential services such as electricity generation from TPPs and mining activities were also reduced during lockdown [ 73 ]. However, during this time, the air quality of Singrauli did not improve much, whereas other locations such as Delhi, Mumbai, etc.…”

Unintended Consequences of COVID-19 Public Policy Responses on Renewable Energy Power: Evidence from OECD Countries in the EU

“…Using data collected from 259 electrical feeder locations, they nd that certain social practices change electricity consumption, such as increased cooking, home laundry and showering in the residential sector, and thus some electricity consumption switch from industrial use to residential use. Lazo et al (2022) examines the impact of con nement measures on the electricity sector through a literature review accompanied by a eld survey in Ibero-America. They nd that the COVID-19 outbreaks and con nement measures have delayed renewable energy projects due to the nancial problem and disruption of global supply chain.…”

“…This study aims to ll this literature gap by investigating the effects of pandemic-induced public policies on electricity production and consumption, and the electricity production from s renewable energy sources. Unlike previous studies (Lazo et al 2022;Yasmeen et al 2022), this study speci cally examines different types of public policies responses of COVID-19 in terms of stringent lockdown policies, economic support polices and containment and health policies on electricity production by renewable and nonrenewable sources, electricity consumption and net import of electricity.…”

“…As a result, the pandemic-induced public polices unintendedly help each country temporarily achieve the abatement goal of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, previous studies also nd that the technology challenge of power balance, disruption of supply chain of clean energy components, and nancial challenge play a role in delaying the renewable energy projects and reducing electricity production from renewable energy power (Lazo et al 2022). Together, the dramatic public policies in response the COVID-19 outbreak have brought a new climate policy issue, that is, the stringent lockdown events may potentially discourage the renewable energy use and even reverse the transformation in the energy sector from fossil fuel sources to renewable energy sources.…”

Economic modelling of electricity generation: long short-term memory and Q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets

“…The article also takes into account existing methods for forecasting COVID-19-related statistics to increase the accuracy of the models by Fowler. Many researchers found the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on oil consumption in the United States, China and developing countries ( Sánchez-Úbeda et al., 2022 ; Ashkanani et al., 2022 ; Lazo et al., 2022 ; Ku et al., 2022 ).…”