Abstract
Population ageing is increasingly reshaping the consumption structure of urban energy technologies, yet its household-level implications remain poorly understood. Using micro-level survey and interview data from 2050 households in Beijing, this study examines how the age of the household head shapes per capita household energy consumption, and how these effects are conditioned by intra-urban spatial structure and China's hukou system. We find pronounced intergenerational differences in household energy consumption and associated socio-technical impact outcomes. Electricity and natural gas dominate the energy mix, with electricity consumption rising systematically with age, reflecting more home-centred daily routines, longer television-viewing time, and differences in appliance conditions. Older household heads are also more likely to be retired or not working, to occupy larger floor area on a per capita basis, and to live in dwellings with weaker thermal conditions. Age-related effects are most pronounced in the core area, where older residents are more concentrated and older housing stock with weaker dwelling conditions is more prevalent. Institutional status further amplifies these patterns: local hukou significantly strengthens the association between age and household energy consumption. Together, the findings show that the energy implications of population ageing emerge from the interaction of demographic change, spatial context and institutional stratification, underscoring the need for differentiated urban energy strategies that support affordable and clean energy consumption in ageing cities.