Energy-Efficient Smart Infrastructure as a Socio-Economic Resource for Inclusive Community Development in the Post-War Period

Abstract

This article develops the conceptual foundations for leveraging energy-efficient smart infrastructure as a driver of inclusive community development in Ukraine during post-war recovery. It traces the evolution of the smart infrastructure concept from technological determinism to a socio-technical approach, identifying five structural components (smart grids, distributed generation, energy storage systems, digital platforms, and energy communities) and defining their social functions. The article examines the distinctive Ukrainian context of "recovery under fire," marked by simultaneous destruction and reconstruction. Drawing on World Bank RDNA4 data, it assesses the scale of energy infrastructure damage (USD 20 billion in direct losses, 9 GW of generating capacity destroyed) and identifies emerging categories of vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (4.6 million), veterans (projected to exceed 1.2 million), and residents of de-occupied territories (approximately 2 million). The study proposes a conceptual model for embedding smart infrastructure into inclusive community development strategies, structured around five interconnected blocks: actors (communities, energy communities, social enterprises, local authorities, business, and donors), resources (financial, technological, human, and natural), mechanisms (municipal energy plans, energy cooperatives, P2P platforms, social tariffs, and inclusive procurement), outcomes (energy security, poverty reduction, and social inclusion), and external environment (regulatory framework, war-related risks, and international support). An inclusivity-based typology of energy communities is introduced, distinguishing five models: cooperative, municipal, social-entrepreneurial, microgrid, and hybrid, each incorporating specific mechanisms for engaging vulnerable groups. The article further demonstrates the potential of social entrepreneurship in smart infrastructure for veteran reintegration, mapping six areas of activity that align military competencies with energy sector needs. The study contributes to the literature by: (1) reconceptualizing smart infrastructure as a socio-technical system whose five components perform both technical and social functions; (2) developing a conceptual model adapted to "recovery under fire" conditions that accounts for newly emerging vulnerability categories; and (3) advancing a typology of energy communities that foregrounds their social function and capacity to facilitate veteran reintegration through social entrepreneurship. The findings are applicable for local governments designing municipal energy plans, central authorities refining the regulatory framework, international donors programming inclusive energy sector support, veteran organizations establishing social enterprises, and higher education institutions training energy management specialists.