Double transitions of energy: Analyzing changing energy poverty and access patterns in the era of climate change mitigation in Nepal

The high magnitude earthquake in 2015 aggravated the situation of energy poverty and access in Nepal as around 30% of the infrastructure was damaged. The purpose of the project is to advance knowledge on the relationships between energy transition and energy access in the context of Nepal. Energy transition in Nepal runs along two parallel processes: a transition from low-access to high access to modern energy for meeting the demands of the population, and a transition from fossil-fuel based energy to renewable energy. However, little has been known about how these two processes relate to each other. By defining access as the ability to derive benefits from energy sources, we aim to identify the differentiated patterns of means, relations, and processes that enable/disable small businesses and households’ opportunities to have access, alleviate poverty and derive benefits from energy transition.