DIGITAL TOOLS FOR GREEN ENERGY AS DRIVERS OF SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
The article is devoted to the role of digital technologies in the development of green energy as a key driver of sustainable and inclusive development of Ukraine's regions. Particular focus is placed on the concept of ‘twin transition,’ which envisages the synergy between energy decarbonisation and digitalisation, critically important in the context of post-war reconstruction. The author systematises and classifies key digital tools – Smart Grids, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, virtual power plants, blockchain, digital twins, energy storage management systems, and digital platforms for energy communities – and analyses their impact on economic efficiency, energy security, and the socio-economic development of regions. The article considers the practical effects of digitalisation, such as increasing the reliability and stability of electricity supply, reducing technical losses, balancing unstable renewable energy generation, creating new sources of income for local communities, transforming traditional consumers into prosumers, and developing energy cooperatives. Examples of Ukrainian initiatives serving as tools for increasing transparency, investment attractiveness, and the integration of the regional energy system into the European energy space are analysed. At the same time, key challenges to scaling digital solutions have been identified: the digital divide between urbanised and remote areas, a shortage of highly qualified specialists at the intersection of energy and IT, cybersecurity risks, and insufficient coordination between the public sector, private business, and communities. The need to create a comprehensive digital transformation strategy that combines technical, economic, and social aspects, stimulates innovative investment, and ensures the inclusiveness of energy development has been substantiated. The proposed conclusions can form the basis for effective regional policy aimed at developing a decentralised, transparent, and sustainable energy infrastructure that supports social cohesion and economic activity in communities.
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