DIGITALIZZAZIONE E COMUNITÀ ENERGETICHE RINNOVABILI: NUOVI SCENARI PER LA TUTELA DEL CONSUMATORE E IL DIRITTO DEI CONTRATTI

This research explores the intersection between the energy transition and the digital transition, analyzing the impact of digitalization on models of energy production, distribution, and consumption. Particular attention is devoted to Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), which, through the use of advanced technologies such as blockchain, smart grids, and smart contracts, embody an innovative paradigm of cooperative energy management. The study investigates the legal and contractual implications arising from these transformations, with a specific focus on the reconfiguration of relationships among energy market actors. Issues related to consumer protection, data privacy, and cybersecurity are examined within an increasingly digitalized and disintermediated environment. The emergence of peer-to-peer contracts and automated systems necessitates a re-evaluation of traditional contractual frameworks. Moreover, the analysis seeks to identify regulatory challenges and the evolutionary trajectories of contract law in the context of new technologies. Adopting a comparative approach, the research examines governance models from Europe, the United States, and Japan. Ultimately, the study aims to provide a systematic reflection on the opportunities for legal innovation that Renewable Energy Communities offer within the broader digital transformation of the energy sector.