In the context of the transition of the European energy sector and economy towards sustainable systems, this study aims to investigate the influence of digital enablers on affordable and clean energy in the European Union, using an econometric approach based on panel data regression. In accordance with the literature review and the main programmatic documents that mark the sustainable transition of the energy system, as well as the role of digitalization in this process, 4 research hypotheses and 16 sub-hypotheses were developed regarding the influence of digital enablers specific to the digitalization of the population and enterprises on clean and affordable energy. To confirm the hypotheses, a panel data regression was used for the period 2016–2024 in the European Union states. From a methodological perspective, the panel data regression was carried out using estimation of fixed effects and random effects models, Hausman tests for model selection, diagnostic testing, and correction of standard errors using Driscoll–Kraay estimators. The panel data regression analysis was carried out using R software, version 4.5.1. The results obtained showed that not all independent variables that express the digitalization of the population have the same influence on the share of renewable energy. The performed analysis shows the influence of the level of digitalization of enterprises on the share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption value, but also of the digitalization of the population on the price of energy, as a synthetic expression of affordable energy. Therefore, an essential contribution of the research is represented by highlighting the differentiated impact of digital enablers on clean and affordable energy, using a dual perspective of digitalization, at both the population and enterprise levels.
Simion et al. (2026) studied this question.