What is the Digital Energy Transition and why is it important?

8. Challenges of Energy Digitalisation

Now that we’ve looked at some of the benefits of energy digitalisation, let’s take a closer look of some of the challenges faced by both producers and consumers of energy.  

Inclusion and Access 

As we saw earlier, an important focus of The European Commission’s European Green Deal is ensuring that everyone, no matter where they live or who they are, is engaged in the digital energy transition. This is why policies such as the EU’s Digital Strategy aim to ensure that the infrastructure, skills and technologies needed are in place.   

Ensuring that everyone has access to, and the skills to use, digital technologies is vital. Research by The University of Bristol highlights five key areas that should be addressed to ensure that the digital energy transition is for everyone:  

• Whether people feel safe and comfortable using digital technologies. 
• The cost and availability of digital technologies.  
• Whether some energy users are excluded from energy saving initiatives such as dynamic pricing because of their type of energy contract. 
• The need for jargon-free explanations, in a range of online and offline formats, to ensure that everyone has access to information they need.  
• An awareness that there is often a range of factors and needs as to why individuals and communities may be excluded currently from engaging in the digital energy transition. 

Ensuring that the digital energy transition is accessible, understandable and works for the benefit of everyone is critical.