Households’ Energy Autonomy: Risks or Benefits for a State?

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of households’ energy autonomy on a country’s energy independence level, to identify prospects and risks. To assess the economic efficiency of households’ energy autonomy, the study used a modeling method based on maximizing the net present value, determining the average notional cost of energy efficiency and the level of energy independence in 20 countries. Based on the analysis of the volumes of electricity consumption by households in the studied countries for the period 2000–2018, it was revealed that in developed and developing countries there is an increase in this indicator. Diagnostics of the investment attractiveness of the installation and operation of energy systems for households makes it possible to determine the boundaries of a possible increase in the level of their energy autonomy. The scientific novelty of the research is represented by the proposed methodological approach, which makes it possible to assess the level of energy dependence of countries, possible deviations, and an increase in households’ energy autonomy in relation to the risk limit of energy dependence. The proposed methodological approach allowed the authors to prove the positive impact of increasing households’ energy autonomy for most developed countries. The most positive effect is characteristic of the leading countries in fossil energy market.