Stimulation of Smart Energy Systems Development

Today, the energy system of Ukraine is in a state of crisis. Thermal generation is almost completely destroyed, hydropower facilities have suffered significant damage, and outdated nuclear power units are unable to cover the electricity deficit. This affects the cost of production of domestic products, as entrepreneurs are forced to spend additional funds on the purchase and maintenance of alternative, more expensive to operate power plants. Similar measures are also taken by the owners of retail trade enterprises, which in aggregate leads to an increase in the price of consumer goods and, as a result, an increase in inflation. As of May 2024, the cost of restoration of Ukraine's energy system is estimated at approximately $50 billion. However, attracting such a large amount of funds in the form of private investments seems unlikely given, firstly, the risks associated with hostilities, and secondly, the obsolescence of the infrastructure and technologies of electricity generation. Unlike the processes of energy modernization, the first factor cannot be influenced by economic policy, and therefore the competence of economic science remains only the question of stimulating the development of innovations in the field of energy. If this task is successfully implemented, the economic benefits from the operation of high-tech enterprises may outweigh the risks associated with hostilities, and therefore the importance of this factor will be reduced. In modern terminology, high-tech enterprises that systematically use digital technologies in their activities are called “smart enterprises”. In the context of energy, this is manifested in the wide application of digital technologies for the purpose of optimizing the processes of energy generation, distribution and consumption of electricity. The use of such an approach makes it possible to minimize production and operational costs, which positively affects the investment attractiveness of construction projects and the development of smart enterprises. At the same time, the digitalization of production processes creates the potential for the use of digital tools to stimulate the development of this type of activity.