IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i15p9481-d878685.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Comparative Analysis of the Impacts and Resilience of the Electricity Supply Industry against COVID-19 Restrictions in the United Kingdom, Malawi, and Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Francis Mujjuni

    (Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Epinal Way, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

  • Joyce Nyuma Chivunga

    (Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Epinal Way, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

  • Thomas Betts

    (Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Epinal Way, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

  • Zhengyu Lin

    (Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Epinal Way, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

  • Richard Blanchard

    (Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Epinal Way, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

Abstract

In response to COVID-19, most countries implemented mitigative and suppressive measures to stem its spread. This study analysed their impacts on the operations, investments, and policies within the electricity supply industry (ESI) for the United Kingdom, Malawi, and Uganda. It further assessed ESI’s resilience capacities ( prevention , absorption , adaptation , recovery , and transformation ) and ultimately quantified resilience using SDG 7 targets. The study observed that in 2020, the UK had 143 days of lockdowns compared to 74 for Uganda and none for Malawi. The UK’s annual demand fell by 4.8% while Uganda and Malawi’s increased by 0.5% and 2.8%, respectively. During lockdowns, the UK lost 28% of its demand compared to 5.5% for Malawi and 24% for Uganda. It took the UK 8 months to recover its demand, which was correspondingly twice and four times longer than Uganda and Malawi. The degeneration in the level of system operations in the UK did not significantly affect electricity access and reliability contrary to Uganda and Malawi, whose impacts on their development commitments could span for years. This study underscores the necessity of evaluating resilience with respect to local development commitments. Moreover, several measures were proposed to enhance resilience mainly through actions meant to ensure business continuity.

Suggested Citation

  • Francis Mujjuni & Joyce Nyuma Chivunga & Thomas Betts & Zhengyu Lin & Richard Blanchard, 2022. "A Comparative Analysis of the Impacts and Resilience of the Electricity Supply Industry against COVID-19 Restrictions in the United Kingdom, Malawi, and Uganda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9481-:d:878685
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/15/9481/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/15/9481/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Desen Kirli & Maximilian Parzen & Aristides Kiprakis, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Electricity System of Great Britain: A Study on Energy Demand, Generation, Pricing and Grid Stability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-25, January.
    2. Roege, Paul E. & Collier, Zachary A. & Mancillas, James & McDonagh, John A. & Linkov, Igor, 2014. "Metrics for energy resilience," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 249-256.
    3. Collen Zalengera & Maxon L. Chitawo & Isaac Chitedze & Long Seng To & Vincent Mwale & Kondwani T. Gondwe & Timeyo Maroyi, 2021. "Unbending the Winding Path of a Low-Income Country’s Energy Sector amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives from Malawi," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Manyena, Bernard & Machingura, Fortunate & O'Keefe, Phil, 2019. "Disaster Resilience Integrated Framework for Transformation (DRIFT): A new approach to theorising and operationalising resilience," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-1.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mujjuni, F. & Betts, T. & To, L.S. & Blanchard, R.E., 2021. "Resilience a means to development: A resilience assessment framework and a catalogue of indicators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    2. Adrian Grimm & Patrik Schönfeldt & Herena Torio & Peter Klement & Benedikt Hanke & Karsten von Maydell & Carsten Agert, 2021. "Deduction of Optimal Control Strategies for a Sector-Coupled District Energy System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Shen, Lijuan & Cassottana, Beatrice & Tang, Loon Ching, 2018. "Statistical trend tests for resilience of power systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 138-147.
    4. Dong, Kangyin & Dong, Xiucheng & Jiang, Qingzhe & Zhao, Jun, 2021. "Assessing energy resilience and its greenhouse effect: A global perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    5. Timothy Fraser & Lily Cunningham & Amos Nasongo, 2021. "Build Back Better? Effects of Crisis on Climate Change Adaptation Through Solar Power in Japan and the United States," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 21(1), pages 54-75, Winter.
    6. Carvallo, Juan Pablo & Frick, Natalie Mims & Schwartz, Lisa, 2022. "A review of examples and opportunities to quantify the grid reliability and resilience impacts of energy efficiency," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    7. Johansson, Bengt & Jonsson, Daniel K. & Veibäck, Ester & Sonnsjö, Hannes, 2016. "Assessing the capabilites to manage risks in energy systems–analytical perspectives and frameworks with a starting point in Swedish experiences," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(P1), pages 429-435.
    8. Yusuke Toyoda, 2021. "Survey paper: achievements and perspectives of community resilience approaches to societal systems," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 705-756, October.
    9. Kristin B. Raub & Kristine F. Stepenuck & Bindu Panikkar & Jennie C. Stephens, 2021. "An Analysis of Resilience Planning at the Nexus of Food, Energy, Water, and Transportation in Coastal US Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, June.
    10. Yong Xiang & Yonghua Chen & Yangyang Su & Zeyou Chen & Junna Meng, 2023. "Research on the Evaluation and Spatial–Temporal Evolution of Safe and Resilient Cities Based on Catastrophe Theory—A Case Study of Ten Regions in Western China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-50, June.
    11. Ahmadi, Somayeh & Saboohi, Yadollah & Vakili, Ali, 2021. "Frameworks, quantitative indicators, characters, and modeling approaches to analysis of energy system resilience: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    12. Kurz, Konstantin & Bock, Carolin & Knodt, Michèle & Stöckl, Anna, 2022. "A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed? Analysis of the Willingness to Share Self-Produced Electricity During a Long-lasting Power Outage," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 136773, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    13. Liu, Min & Qin, Jianjun & Lu, Da-Gang & Zhang, Wei-Heng & Zhu, Jiang-Sheng & Faber, Michael Havbro, 2022. "Towards resilience of offshore wind farms: A framework and application to asset integrity management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    14. Ding, Yueting & Chen, Sai & Zheng, Yilei & Chai, Shanglei & Nie, Rui, 2022. "Resilience assessment of China's natural gas system under supply shortages: A system dynamics approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    15. Judy P. Che-Castaldo & Rémi Cousin & Stefani Daryanto & Grace Deng & Mei-Ling E. Feng & Rajesh K. Gupta & Dezhi Hong & Ryan M. McGranaghan & Olukunle O. Owolabi & Tianyi Qu & Wei Ren & Toryn L. J. Sch, 2021. "Critical Risk Indicators (CRIs) for the electric power grid: a survey and discussion of interconnected effects," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 594-615, December.
    16. Heba Mohtady Ali & Jamie Ranse & Anne Roiko & Cheryl Desha, 2023. "Enabling Transformational Leadership to Foster Disaster-Resilient Hospitals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    17. Fekete, Alexander & Fuchs, Sven & Garschagen, Matthias & Hutter, Gérard & Klepp, Silja & Lüder, Catharina & Neise, Thomas & Sett, Dominic & von Elverfeldt, Kirsten & Wannewitz, Mia, 2022. "Adjustment or transformation? Disaster risk intervention examples from Austria, Indonesia, Kiribati and South Africa," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    18. Sannamari Pilpola & Vahid Arabzadeh & Jani Mikkola & Peter D. Lund, 2019. "Analyzing National and Local Pathways to Carbon-Neutrality from Technology, Emissions, and Resilience Perspectives—Case of Finland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-22, March.
    19. Corinne Curt & Jean‐Marc Tacnet, 2018. "Resilience of Critical Infrastructures: Review and Analysis of Current Approaches," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(11), pages 2441-2458, November.
    20. Pin Li & Jinsuo Zhang, 2023. "China’s Inter-Provincial Energy Security Resilience Assessment over Space and Time: An Improved Gray Relational Projection Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-22, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9481-:d:878685. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.