Limited consumer knowledge reduces the chances of the spread of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), and hence slows down AFV market spread. In our empirical survey conducted in the first quarter of 2020 among 1002 Poles planning to buy a car in the next 12 months or who have just bought one, we examine what socio-economic and attitudinal factors influence their willingness to buy an AFV. In particular, we are interested in exploring how AFV knowledge related to understanding of the differences between hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), as well as brand recognition associate with the willingness to buy. To the best our knowledge, this is a unique study among consumers in Central and Eastern Europe, characterized by lower exposure to AFVs and lower purchasing power. Our results indicate that males with pro-environmental beliefs and behaviors who are interested in modern automotive technologies and have good AFV brand recognition are predominated to be willing to buy an AFV in the near future.

The smart concept has changed both household electrical systems (smart home) and the whole electric power system (smart grid). It has facilitated much more efficient electrical energy management. Therefore, there is a need to develop a detailed model and knowledge base at the micro-system level, which can respond to changes in the electric power system. Extensive knowledge (know-how), large financial outlays, and access to modern technologies are necessary in order to design and build a functional smart grid. The first installations were made in highly developed countries. Currently, a significant proportion of newly built power installations in Europe have the features of a smart grid type. Developing countries, such as Poland, should benefit from the experience of other countries in the process of building modern installations. The article addresses the energy performance of a household and the ontology of a household micro-system, while taking into account the possibility of it being controlled via energy management systems (EMS).

The European Green Deal requires coal-dependent regions to undergo a rapid yet socially balanced transition toward climate neutrality. In countries such as Greece, Poland, and Germany, the phase-out of lignite has created pressing challenges related to energy security, economic restructuring, and social cohesion. At the same time, these regions host extensive legacy energy infrastructures and strong institutional experience, offering unique opportunities for sustainable redevelopment through decentralised and digitally enabled energy systems.This paper explores how digitally supported energy communities can act as a key mechanism for supporting the just transition of former coal regions, bridging policy frameworks with advanced digital solutions. Based on the FlexBIT project, this study combines a comparative regulatory analysis of selected EU Member States with a focus on interoperability, data governance, and cybersecurity requirements for energy communities, alongside the design of digital platforms that enable flexibility services, energy sharing, and local energy market participation.The analysis highlights that while EU legislation, particularly RED II/III, the Electricity Market Directive, the Data Act, and NIS2, provides a strong enabling framework, national implementation gaps and fragmented digital infrastructures remain critical barriers. In Greece, regulatory complexity, uneven digital readiness, and limited access to interoperable platforms constrain the ability of communities to fully exploit local renewable generation, storage, and flexibility potential.The paper demonstrates how interoperable digital platforms, combining real-time data exchange, AI-based flexibility optimisation, and secure governance models, can repurpose existing energy infrastructures and empower local actors, including municipalities, SMEs, and citizens. By aligning regulatory compliance with digital innovation, energy communities can contribute to grid resilience, energy affordability, and social inclusion, transforming former lignite regions into hubs of clean energy innovation.Overall, the study positions digitally enabled energy communities as a scalable and replicable pathway for integrating policy objectives, technological solutions, and social equity within the just transition of coal regions in Greece and across Europe.