On 16 April 2026, the REFORMERS project took the stage at the AMS Conference 2026, where Despoina Kassandra Georgiadi, PhD candidate in Electrical Sustainable Energy at TU Delft, presented groundbreaking research on how we measure and understand energy poverty. Her session, “Layers of Inequality: Composite Socio‑Spatial Metrics of Energy Poverty for Targeted, Multi‑Dimensional Insights”, explored why traditional indicators are no longer enough—and how new open data approaches can help Europe design fairer, more effective energy policies.
AMS Conference 2026: Why Energy Poverty Needs a New Measurement Approach
Across Europe, energy poverty is rising. In the Netherlands alone, 6.1% of households were living in energy poverty in 2024, while 10.6% of EU citizens reported being unable to keep their homes adequately warm. At the same time, 48% of Dutch households cannot actively participate in the energy transition because they rent their homes or lack the financial means to invest in energy efficiency upgrades.
These figures reveal a structural challenge:
the people who would benefit most from the energy transition are often the least able to access it.
Yet identifying energy poor households remains difficult. Existing indicators typically focus on:
- Energy efficiency
- Economic strain
- Energy consumption
But these metrics overlook how social, spatial, and environmental factors interact to shape vulnerability. As European policy increasingly recognises, energy poverty is not just a technical issue—it is a multi‑dimensional social challenge.
A Composite, Open‑Data Framework for Energy Poverty
In her presentation, Georgiadi introduced a new open‑data‑based framework designed to capture the complexity of energy poverty across regions.
The approach integrates:
- Existing energy poverty indicators
- Socioeconomic data
- Environmental datasets
- Geospatial information
By combining these layers, the framework generates composite indicators that reflect diverse dimensions of energy inequality. This allows researchers and policymakers to:
- Compare metrics across regions
- Identify overlaps and blind spots
- Understand how different vulnerabilities cluster spatially
- Tailor interventions to local realities
This multi‑layered perspective is essential for designing fair, targeted, and regionally sensitive energy policies.
Visualising Inequality Through Digital Twins
One of the most innovative aspects of the work is the use of a digital‑twin environment.
Households identified by each metric are visualised as separate layers, enabling analysts to:
- Detect correlations between indicators
- Spot areas where traditional metrics fail
- Understand how environmental and social factors interact
- Explore “what‑if” scenarios for policy interventions
This approach transforms energy poverty from a static statistic into a dynamic, spatially grounded phenomenon—one that can be explored, compared, and acted upon with greater precision.
Towards Fairer and More Effective Energy Policies
The research presented at the AMS Conference demonstrates how open, privacy respecting data can support a more nuanced understanding of energy poverty. By moving beyond single dimension indicators, policymakers can design interventions that:
- Reach the households most in need
- Address structural inequalities
- Support a just and inclusive energy transition
- Ensure no community is left behind
This aligns closely with the mission of REFORMERS, which aims to empower regions with the tools, knowledge, and digital infrastructures needed to accelerate the shift toward renewable, citizen‑centred energy systems.
A Step Forward for Europe’s Just Energy Transition
Despoina Kassandra Georgiadi’s contribution at the AMS Conference 2026 highlights a crucial truth:
to build a fair energy future, we must first understand the inequalities embedded in our current systems.
By integrating socio‑spatial data and digital‑twin technologies, this research offers a powerful pathway to more equitable energy planning—one that recognises the diversity of European households and the complexity of their needs.
REFORMERS is proud to support this work and to continue advancing tools that make the energy transition accessible, inclusive, and just for all.
Other channels
Stay updated on the latest trends in renewable energy innovation with REFORMERS, by following:
- Our social media pages: LinkedIn, Instagram,and YouTube.
- Our latest Newsletter