Navigating energy supply chain challenges amid economic shifts: The impact of digital transformation on energy accessibility and sustainability

The energy sector is a cornerstone of societal progress and quality of life. Yet, the energy landscape's dynamic nature brings significant opportunities and pressing challenges. Rising energy demands, environmental imperatives, and economic disruptions underscore the need for innovative approaches. Digital transformation offers promising solutions to address these challenges, enhancing the resilience of energy supply chains, enabling transitions, and mitigating economic shocks. This study investigates the influence of energy resilience and system digitalization on energy supply chains in the context of transitions and disruptions across the Organization of American States member nations from 2000 to 2021. The findings reveal a negative relationship between energy resilience and digitalization and the pressures on supply chains during transitions and disruptions. Meanwhile, energy access, sustainability, and intensity positively correlate with supply chain effectiveness in these contexts. In some scenarios, transitional and disruptive pressures on supply chains have adversely affected energy resilience and digitalization, as evidenced by infrastructure deficits, lack of standardization, and inadequate cybersecurity. The Organization of American States should prioritize policies that address infrastructure gaps, promote interoperability, and enhance cybersecurity measures to strengthen energy supply chain resilience during transitions and disruptions. Encouraging investment in digital technologies can improve supply chain effectiveness while mitigating vulnerabilities. Policymakers should also focus on ensuring equitable energy access, advancing sustainability initiatives, and optimizing energy intensity to support a stable energy system. Regional collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential to harmonize standards and leverage best practices.