How secure is secure enough?
The power system's ability to continuously fulfil its function against adverse situations has taken centre stage: electricity must be supplied whenever and wherever needed to avoid serious hazards to society. This is why we support EU initiatives such as REPowerEU, the EU Green Deal and the twin green and digital transition by: studying electricity security, resilience and risk preparedness; developing complex socio-techno-economic models and analysing threats surfacing beyond the physical sphere.
Energy is crucial for the mankind and must be provided when and where needed to avoid serious hazards to societies.
Among all forms of energy, electricity seems bound to play an increasingly central role, particularly in Europe. More and more shares of EU's energy are expected to be converted into electricity, particularly in the transport, heating and services demand sectors.
Electricity security, which has to do with the power system's capability to deliver energy to the users, represents a crucial concern for policy decision making at all levels.
Energy security occupies a prominent place in most of the EU's energy policy action areas:
- The Commission collaborates with relevant energy expert groups to ensure access to energy, risk preparedness and cross-border coordination.
- As part of the Clean energy for all Europeans package, the Regulation on risk-preparedness in the electricity sector requires all EU countries to cooperate to ensure that, in electricity crisis, electricity goes where it is most needed.
- Energy security requires adequate protection of critical infrastructure, in particular against cyberattacks.
- The EU internal energy market is expected to be integrated and resilient; the promotion of energy efficiency and domestic energy production, would foster the reduction of energy import dependency.
Our science for policy activities
Electricity Risk Preparedness
We have been contributing to shaping and monitoring the electricity risk-preparedness policy and legislative actions.
Critical Energy Infrastructures
In support of EU efforts to protect critical infrastructures, we develop methods and tools for international energy security exercises.
Electricity Supply Security
We focus on safeguarding energy supply security, while fostering the green transition and addressing its societal and distributional consequences.
Electricity Security in the EU
Learn our understanding of the power system's ability to continuously fulfill its function against possible adverse situations.