Celebrating the Centenary of the World Energy Council, the Latvian National Committee of the World Energy Council is organising Energy Conference, titled "Energy Trilemma: The Backbone for Energy Transition - Baltic Sea Region Focus", on December 11, 2023, at Riga Technical University. This event will also be broadcast live on LSM from 09:00-17:00.
The conference will feature internationally recognized experts, regional policymakers, and energy company executives engaging in discussions on the resilience of the Baltic Sea Region's energy sector against security risks. Additionally, the conference will delve into the achievements of the electricity market model and analyse the feasibility of adopting a " sustainability-cost-effectiveness " approach in the energy sector.
"The energy sector in the Baltic Sea region is undergoing substantial transformations. Challenges such as energy security concerns, last year's unprecedented surge in electricity prices triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the insufficient progress made by European Union Member States in achieving climate neutrality targets have underscored the critical need to harmonize the dimensions of the energy trilemma - security, accessibility, and sustainability.
At the conference, we will explore sustainable energy solutions for the future of the region. Our objective is to bridge the gap between ambition and tangible action, thereby making a substantial contribution to the influential World Energy Congress scheduled for 2024 in Rotterdam, Netherlands," says Olga Bogdanova, President of the Latvian National Committee of the World Energy Council.
Distinguished speakers at the conference will include President of the World Energy Council, Michael W. Howard; Vice-President of the European Parliament, Roberts Zīle; Secretary-General of EURELECTRIC, Kristian Ruby; Head of the NATO Centre for Energy Security Excellence, COL Darius Užurkaitis; and the former Commissioner of Energy of the European Union, Andris Piebalgs. Additionally, high-ranking representatives from the energy ministries of the Baltic Sea region and key figures from energy companies such as AS "Latvenergo," AS "Esti Energia," AS " Augstsprieguma tīkls," SE "E.ON," S.A. "Orlens," and Oy's "Gas Grid Finland" will contribute to the discourse.
The energy security part of the conference will provide an opportunity to learn about risk assessment in the energy sector in the Baltic Sea countries and to learn about the US experience in this field.
The energy access part of the conference will focus on improving electricity market design to reduce market uncertainty and promote the transition to an energy-efficient, renewable, climate-neutral and climate-resilient economy. This thematic part will also discuss the policies needed and present the experiences of different countries in supporting vulnerable consumers.
Meanwhile, in the context of energy sustainability, the conference will seek answers to questions such as whether cost-efficiency and sustainability are compatible and what innovative technologies are needed to support the energy transition.
Details about the conference program and speakers can be found here: https://trilemmaconference.worldenergycouncil.lv/en.
The "Energy Trilemma - The Backbone for Energy Transition" conference, with a Baltic Sea Region focus, is organized by the Latvian National Committee of the World Energy Council, and is supported by EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute), AS Latvenergo, Riga Technical University, S.A. Orlens Neptun, and the Nordic Council of Ministers, along with members of the Latvian National Committee of the World Energy Council.
