Strategies to Tackle Energy Poverty in Post-conflict Setting: The Case Study of Rural Damascus

Renewable energy self-sufficiency systems to meet the energy needs of vulnerable households and communities can effectively address and mitigate energy poverty. The aim of this article, which has been developed in the framework of the Step4Syria project, is to investigate energy poverty in Syria in order to identify effective counteracting actions. In this way, we contribute to understanding how to deal with energy poverty in post-conflict contexts, where this issue is mostly related to energy accessibility and availability due to the destruction of electric power plants and energy supply transmission networks. Based on a case study in Syria, achievable strategies are proposed to understand energy poverty concerning energy access and to implement feasible solutions. A case study of an energy-independent building in a Damascus suburb is examined to evaluate the energy advantages. Results show that the building could become energy independent for around 80% of the year in standard conditions thanks to the usage of photovoltaics. This article intends to contribute to the definition of a more resilient configuration to improve energy security and reliability in post-conflict contexts in view of future challenges.