Conceptual and Categorical Framework For Studying Resilient Distributed Energy Systems of Territorial Communities: The Regulatory and Technical Dimensions

<jats:p>The article substantiates the conceptual and categorical framework for studying resilient distributed energy systems of territorial communities. The relevance of the topic is driven by the need to enhance energy security, autonomy, and resilience of communities in the face of military threats, damage to energy infrastructure, the development of distributed generation, renewable energy, digitalization, and the need to ensure continuity of vital services. The methodological basis of the study includes systemic, comparative, regulatory-analytical, terminological, and logical-structural approaches, as well as methods of content analysis, systematization, and generalization. The article distinguishes between regulatory and technical dimensions in shaping the terminology field in the energy sector. It has been found that regulatory legal acts mainly reflect the procedural, organizational, regulatory, and managerial aspects of the electric power sector?s functioning, while Ukraine?s technical standards focus on the technical, engineering, resource, operational, and quality characteristics of energy systems. It has been shown that the existing terms describe specific aspects of energy security, reliability, operating mode regulation, active consumer participation, digital metering, and power restoration, but do not form a comprehensive conceptual framework for analyzing resilient distributed energy systems at the community level. It is substantiated that such a system cannot be identified solely with distributed generation or a microgrid, but should be considered as a localized socio-technical system of community energy supply. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the systematization of terms by content blocks, the distinction between normative-legal and normative-technical aspects of their interpretation, as well as the identification of the hierarchy of the conceptual-categorical framework for studying resilient distributed energy systems of territorial communities. The proposed hierarchy reflects a transition from basic technical-infrastructure and locally distributed categories to functional-operational, organizational-regulatory, safety-reliability, digital-information, resource-transformation, recovery-adaptation, and integral concepts of local energy resilience. The practical significance of the results lies in the possibility of using them as a theoretical and methodological basis for preparing analytical materials, methodological recommendations, local energy plans, energy efficiency programs, backup power schemes for critical infrastructure, and approaches to assessing local energy resilience. The proposed approach can be useful for government authorities, local self-government bodies, energy companies, research institutions, investors, and international partners when preparing decisions aimed at increasing energy autonomy, resilience, and continuity of essential services in territorial communities.</jats:p>