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GREEN ENERGY AND DIGITALIZATION: A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE ROLE OF DECENTRALIZED TECHNOLOGIES

Kristina Dineva, Tatiana Atanasova

Abstract

The growing need for a sustainable and climate-resilient future places green energy and digital transformation at the heart of the European Union-s long-term strategic plan. Policies such as the European Green Deal and the Digital Europe Programme envisage a synchronised "twin transition", one that aims to decarbonise the economy and modernise its digital infrastructure simultaneously. While significant attention has been directed towards centralised digital solutions and large-scale grid management systems, less emphasis has been placed on how decentralised technologies can achieve these goals through flexibility, automation, and inclusivity. This paper examines the potential role of decentralised technologies, particularly blockchain infrastructures like Solana, in enabling efficient, transparent, and scalable systems for green energy production, certification, and trading. Using a theoretical approach, the study examines key architectural elements of Solana, including Proof of History, Sealevel, and Turbine, to assess their suitability for real-time energy tokenisation, peer-to-peer trading, and automated green credit verification through smart contracts. The energy efficiency, high throughput, and low transaction costs of Solana highlight its potential as a platform for developing decentralised applications that support climate and sustainability objectives. In addition to the theoretical framework, the article presents the author's architecture for tokenising renewable energy assets using smart contracts and IoT-based data streams. The findings indicate that although platforms like Solana are not included in formal EU regulatory frameworks, their functional features can support the realisation of policy aims, especially in areas such as microgeneration, prosumer participation, and green asset traceability. The paper critically discusses challenges such as network stability, partial validator centralization, and the lack of clear regulatory frameworks for tokenized energy assets. Broader socio-economic and policy implications are addressed, including energy access, digital equity, and inclusion of small-scale producers. In conclusion, the paper proposes that decentralised technologies, when properly planned and integrated, may not replace state-regulated systems but can enhance transparency, accountability, and accessibility in the evolving energy area.

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Dimensions ID: pub.1199508391

DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2025v/4.2/s20.81

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