Security, Resilience and Governance of Sustainable Energy Systems in the Digital Transition

Dear Colleagues,

Global efforts toward sustainable development increasingly depend on secure, resilient and well-governed energy systems. Energy transition is no longer only a technological or environmental challenge; it also involves questions of security, social acceptance, institutional capacity, critical resources, infrastructure resilience, digital transformation and preparedness for disruption. The rapid development of smart grids, AI-supported energy management, battery technologies, renewable energy systems and circular economy models creates new opportunities but also new vulnerabilities related to cyber risk, supply chains, inequalities, governance gaps and crisis response.

Digitalisation plays a growing role in sustainable energy systems by enabling monitoring, optimisation, forecasting, decentralisation and more efficient resource use. At the same time, digital transition requires careful governance to ensure that sustainable energy infrastructures remain secure, inclusive, adaptable and socially legitimate. Security and resilience perspectives are therefore essential for understanding how energy systems can support climate goals, economic stability, public safety and long-term societal wellbeing.

The aims of this Special Issue are to bring together interdisciplinary research on sustainable energy systems, with particular attention to security, resilience, governance, digital transformation and capacity building. Contributions may address technological, organisational, social, educational, environmental or policy dimensions of sustainable energy transitions. Such a scope aligns closely with Sustainability, especially in relation to sustainable development, energy transitions, responsible innovation, circular economy, risk governance and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Original research articles, review papers, conceptual studies, case studies and comparative analyses are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• energy security and sustainable energy governance;
• resilience of sustainable energy systems and critical infrastructures;
• digital transformation, AI, data-driven tools and smart energy systems;
• cybersecurity and risk governance in energy infrastructures;
• batteries, critical raw materials, recycling and circular economy;
• social acceptance, justice and inequalities in energy transitions;
• crisis preparedness, risk communication and institutional response;
• policy, regulation and multi-level governance of sustainable energy systems;
• capacity building, energy literacy, sustainability competences and professional education;
• VR/AR, simulation-based training and digital learning for sustainable energy transition.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Gawlik-Kobylińska
Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Świerszcz
Guest Editors

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