From twin transition to twice the burden? Digitalisation, energy demand, and economic growth

May latest paper is now available at http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108747. The “twin transition” in the title is the ongoing digital transition and the hoped-for green economic transition.

The paper evaluates the potential for digitalisation to drive structural transformations towards a sustainable economy. The paper finds that, left ungoverned, digitalisation risks intensifying economic–ecological tensions. However, if steered towards socio-ecological priorities, while addressing the environmental costs of economic growth, digitalisation holds potential to deliver benefits.

Jérôme used the the CL-PFU database for this work, demonstrating the value of collaboration among members of the Exergy Economics community. It is gratifying and humbling to see the database used in this way. And its use represents the realization of our yearslong vision to enable other scholars to explore aspects of a sustainabke energy transition.