Meta-study of residential energy studies in India

Residential energy (electricity) use in India is expected to grow four-fold by 2030, yet there is paucity of data that is essential for developing energy policy or programme. This paper undertakes a meta-study of residential energy studies in India to characterise their scope, data collection methods and findings. An in-depth review of literature was undertaken using Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and ScienceDirect to identify relevant journal publications, conference papers and reports. A series of expert workshops were held to identify any data gaps and stakeholders' needs. The identified studies were characterised using a meta-data framework that included criteria such as climate, dwelling form, income group, methods and study duration. An online searchable platform (REACT) was created to make the identified studies more accessible using the meta-data criteria. Of the 29 studies identified, only 16 were published in peer-reviewed publications (10 in journals and 6 in conferences proceedings). About 11 studies focussed on dwelling-level energy use, while the remaining used econometric data and statistical modelling at a macro-scale. To develop evidence based energy policies, it is vital to gather empirical data on residential energy in different climatic zones. Robust data sharing policies should be implemented to avoid duplication of effort.