Sensing global changes in local patterns of energy consumption in cities during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

Rowe, Francisco ORCID: 0000-0003-4137-0246, Robinson, Caitlin and Patias, Nikos (2022) Sensing global changes in local patterns of energy consumption in cities during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. CITIES, 129. 103808-.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103808

Abstract

COVID-19, and the wider social and economic impacts that a global pandemic entails, led to unprecedented reductions in energy consumption globally. Whilst estimates of changes in energy consumption have emerged at the national scale, detailed sub-regional estimates to allow for global comparisons are less developed. Using night-time light satellite imagery from December 2019-June 2020 across 50 of the world's largest urban conurbations, we provide high resolution estimates (450 m<sup>2</sup>) of spatio-temporal changes in urban energy consumption in response to COVID-19. Contextualising this imagery with modelling based on indicators of mobility, stringency of government response, and COVID-19 rates, we provide novel insights into the potential drivers of changes in urban energy consumption during a global pandemic. Our results highlight the diversity of changes in energy consumption between and within cities in response to COVID-19, moderating dominant narratives of a shift in energy demand away from dense urban areas. Further modelling highlights how the stringency of the government's response to COVID-19 is likely a defining factor in shaping resultant reductions in urban energy consumption.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	COVID-19, Urban energy use, Mobility, Night-time light satellite imagery, Cities
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	26 Jul 2022 15:29
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 20:55
DOI:	10.1016/j.cities.2022.103808
Open Access URL:	https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-846222/v...
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3159417